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/ 


THE BUILDING CODE 

OF THE 

/ 

CITY OF SEATTLE 

AND 

Other Data Useful to 
Architects and Builders 

Corrected to January 1, 1924 



CONTENTS 


Page 1 

THE BUILDING CODE_ 23 

APPENDIX _121 

INDEX TO BUILDING CODE_ 127 


BUILDING DEPARTMENT 
OFFICIALS 


Robt. L. Proctor 
H. E. Fowlee_ __ 
E. C. Anderson _ 

C. W. Litt_ 

W. E. Clothier- 
Robt. L. Laing-- 


- Superintendent of Building 

_Structural Engineer 

Junior Structural Engineer 

_Plan Examiner 

_Chief Building Inspector: 

_Fire Marshal. 


A> 



BOARD OF APPEALS_ 


J. L. McCauley, Chairman 
0. E. Welden, Secretary 
J. M. Sparkwan 















4 


The Building Code 



The Building Code 

City of Seattle 


Except for Parts 2, 6 and 8, which are yet' to be 
revised, the building code as printed in this issue is 
substantially the product of the Building Code Com¬ 
mission, which was created by resolution of the City 
Council in 1920. This Commission is composed of 
twenty-eight members, representing various City de¬ 
partments and civic and commercial organizations. 
The Commission’s executive committee, consisting of 
ten members, has met on an average of once in two 
weeks for the last three years. Various-sub-commit¬ 
tees have held approximately an equal number of 
meetings. Since practically all meetings have been 
held from 7:30 to 10:00 p. m., some idea may be had 
of the time and thought which have been and still is 
being contributed in an effort to give this city a bet¬ 
ter building code. 

The Commission lays no claim, however, to the 
production of a perfect building code, nor the ac¬ 
complishment of any other humanly impossible task. 
They are confident, however, that the building 
knowledge and experience gained in the last ten 
years has made it possible to formulate better bal¬ 
anced building regulations than were possible at the 
time our very creditable* v 19i3 building code was 
drafted. Changes have be^n made only after careful 
thought and discussion, and the Commission requests 
that the public be slow to criticise, remembering that 
it is easy to fin d fault, but rath er diffi cult to create 


something really 

JAN t 8 1994 


NGRESS 













The Building Code 


5 


LIST OF ADVERTISERS 


Page 


Abrahamson Brick Co. 28 

American Sheet Metal Prod. Co.. 134 

Andrews, Ay H., Co. 136 

Bacon & Matheson Forge Co. 50 

Bell Lumber Co. 18 

Blackstock Lumber Ca .Cover 

Bolcom Canal Lumber Co. 34 

Bowles Company. 87 

Brace Lumber Co. 107 

Brick & Tile Del. Co. 46 

Buckle, Harold J., Inc. 112 

Cadwallader-Gibson Co. 6 

Cahoon Lumber Co. 18 

Carter, McDonald & Miller Inc... 17 

Castle, A. M.. & Co. 16 

Central Lumber & Supply Co.... 36 

City Electrical & Fixture Co. 12 

City Light Dept. 7 

Colby & Dickinson. 36 

Crowe, F. T., & Co...-. 10 

Curtis Bros'. 32 

Davis, John, & Co. 22 

Denison Interlocking Tile Corp.. 37 

Ehrlich-Harrison. 131 

Electrical Engineering Co. 93 

Farrell Lumber Co. 34 

Fuller, W. P., & Co.Cover 


Galbraith & Co.76-72-49-43-30-35 


Gould Lumber Co. 1° 

Grant Smith Co. 15 

Hall, Oliver Antrum. 126 

Hendrey, W. R., Co. 104 

Henrickson-Alstrom Co. 15 

Hofius Steel & Equipment Co.... 64 

Hudson, John S. 19 

Hunter, Sam. 11 

Hydraulic Supply Mfg. Co.Cover 

Instantaneous Alarm Co.. 101 

Isaacson Iron Works Co. 59 

Kelton (William) Co. 15 

Kitchen, J. Webb, & Co. Ill 

Kneisley Lumber Co. 114 

Kohler Supply & Tiling Co. 126 

Lake Union Brick & Fire Pfg Co. 45 
Lakewood & Mt. Baker Lbr. Yd. 15 

Lockwood Lumber Co. 18 

Long, A. C., Co., Inc. 100 

Matthews, J. J., Hdwd Lbr. Co.. 34 

Merriman, J. W. 115 

Montgomery Electric Co. 84 


Page 


Moon Roofing & Sheet Metal Co.. 102 

Murphy Door Co. 6 

Northwest Testing Laboratories. 50 
Occidental Sheet Metal Works. . 134 

Olympic Foundry Co. 62 

Olympic Portland Cement Co.... 15 

Olympic Steel Works. 62 

Otis Elevator Co. 84 

Pacific Coast Steel Co.. 55 

Pacific States Const. Co. 132 

Pederson, Hans. 15 

Phillips Sand & Gravel Co. 52 

Pioneer Sand & Gravel Co. 51 

Portland Cement Assn.. 20 

Power Plant Eng. Co.Cover 

Preston Mill Co. 36 

Puget Sound Bridge & Dredge Co. 9 
Puget Sound Power & Light Co.. 14 
Puget Sound Sheet Metal Wks... 126 

Puget Timber Co. 39 

Queen City Lumber Co.... 18 

Raecolith Flooring Co. 67 

Rainoil Waterproof Co. 16 

Reliable Iron & Wire Works.... 62 

Robinson Tile & Supply Co. 75 

Rogers, Chas. W., Tile Co. 47 

Seattle Blue Print Co. 128 

Seattle Boiler Works. 14 

Seattle Hardwood Floor Co. 39 

Seattle Laundry Tray Co... 17 

Seattle Lighting Co. 89 

Seattle Rainier Valley R. R. 12 

Seattle Sheet Metal Shop. 102 

Seattle Title Trust Co. 13 

Shell Oil Co. 12 

Shippen Tile Supply. 47 

Shope Concrete Brick Co. 44 

Sound Const. & Eng. Co. 17 

Star Sheet Metal Mfg. Co. 135 

Strom & Olsen. 39 

Sunset Electric Co. 93 

Union Oil Company. 14 

Uhl Bros. 33 

Walter & Brady. 17 

Walworth Mfg. Co. 9 

Washington Elevator Co. 83 

Western Blower Co. 94 

Western Granite Co. 12 

West Service Co. ® 

Young, A. M. 56 






























































































The Building Code 


/--------- 

MANUFACTURERS OF 

Mahogany Lumber 

Panels and Veneers 

QUALITY 

HARDWOODS 

Cadwallader 
Gibson Co. 

Phone GA rfld 5768 1247 Westlake Ave. North 

_ / 

————— ---—— — --\ 

|©urp|jp Ooor 23cb Compatip 

O ut of Sight, Out of Mind Bed—Why? 

Because it is the only bed concealed 
from the eye by means which do not 
suggest its presence to the mind. 

Exclusive Distributors 
for Northwest 

We manufacture Beds for practically every type of 
building, including “Pivot Door,” “Sliding Door,” 
“Roller and Recess Beds.” 

ALSO FAMOUS “IN-A-DOR BED” 


TERMINAL SALES BLDG. MA in 1559 
















The Building Code 


r~ 
I r 



1923 Power Facts 


HILE SEATTLE now enjoys lower power 
rates than any other city in the country, 
CITY LIGHT is consistently on the “FOR¬ 
WARD MARCH” towards even lower rates. 
CITY LIGHT is giving reliable service to 
more than 73,000 customers within city lim¬ 
its, producing an annual revenue of $3,000,- 
000 . 

The first unit of the great Skagit hydro-electric project, 
beginning with February 1, 1924, will supply 50,000 addi¬ 
tional horsepower, giving CITY LIGHT a system of six 
great plants—the intertie line between Seattle and Ta¬ 
coma making available more than a half million horse¬ 
power from Cedar Falls, Skagit, Lake Cushman, Nis- 
qually and the Seattle and Tacoma steam plants. 

Interest on the Skagit investment is being paid out of 
City Light net earnings, while the scope of reliable serv¬ 
ice is steadily increased. 

CITY LIGHT is consistently progressive, the taxpayers 
profitable investment. 

CITY LIGHT 

County-City Building Main 6000 

RELIABLE ELECTRIC POWER SERVICE 
























8 


The Building Code 





OF SEATTLE 


For 30 years published every morning so Business Men may 
get Business Facts. 

Keep in touch with the industrial and commercial progress 
of the Northwest in particular and the world in general through 
reading the 


^ournST^^Knnieite 

On your desk when you arrive every morning—crammed 
full of vital and authoritative information on the following sub¬ 
jects : 


Stocks and Bonds 
Financial News 
Bond Issues 
Bank Statements 
Produce Row 
Wholesale and Retail 
Quotations 
Construction 
Engineering 
Irrigation 
Road Work 
Sewers, Bridges 
Lumber 

Electric Equipment 
Shipping 

Export or Import 


Foreign Markets 
Federal Trade Reports 
New Incorporations 
Hotel Arrivals 
World’s Important News 
Summary 

Army Post and Navy 
Yard Information 
Court Records 
Real Estate Transfers 
Railroad Improvements 
Harbor Development 
Building Permits 
Electrical Permits 
Proposed Northwest 
Municipal and Im¬ 
provement Work 


The cost is only $1.00 per month. A phone call will bring a 
sample copy. 


Published by 

Record Publishing Co. 

EL iot 1177 83 Columbia Street, Seattle 








The Building Code 


9 


Puget Sound Bridge & 
Dredging Co., inc. 

ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS 

Specialists in Dredging 

BUILDINGS 

EABTBWOBK BY ALL METHODS 811 CENTRAL BUILDING 
GENERAL CONSTRUCTION SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 




West Service Company 

General Contractors 


Not only our business, but our profession—to 
build permanently, honestly—at a fair price. 


MEMBERS OF THE A. G. C. 


3510 Fremont Avenue 


ME lrse 0267 and 
ME lrse 2305 


WALWORTH 

MANUFACTURING CO. 

PIPE, VALVES, FITTINGS AND TOOLS. 

Jobbers of 

PLUMBING AND HEATING SUPPLIES. 

Kswanee Water Supply Systems 

PLUMBING 

AT WHOLESALE 

VISIT OUR MODERN DISPLAY OP PLUMBING FI2ITURE3 


WALWORTH MANUFACTURING CO. 

FIRST AVENUE SOUTH AT KING STREET SEATTLE 












10 uk Building Code 



Over one hundred years ago the Hudson family 
started in the construction profession—today we are 
still building, with the same ideals of artistry, per¬ 
manence and satisfaction to the owner. 

We shall welcome an opportunity to build to your 
requirements, whether it be a home, factory or hotel. 

JOHN S. HUDSON 


GENERAL CONTRACTOR 

760 Empire Building Seattle 

EL iot 4253 



F. T. Crowe & Co. 


508 WESTLAKE AVENUE NORTH 

COMPLETE LINE OF 

BUILDING MATERIAL AND 
SPECIALTIES 

Delivered when and where you want it. Call us for 
Roofing, Paints, Varnishes, Cement, Plaster, Wall 
Board, Fire Brick, Pressed Brick, and 
All kinds of Refractory Materials 


JUST CALL CApitl 3207 

_ L 



























The Building Code 


11 



Sam Hunter Co., Inc. 


BUILD NOW 

LET 4 ‘THE HOUSE OF QUALITY AND SERVICE” 
FURNISH YOU WITH CEMENT, LIME, 
LATH, PLASTER, ETC. 

MA in 3348 97 Columbia Street 




SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 A MONTH 

VANCOUVER, B. C. 

JOURNAL COMMERCE 

629 PENDER ST. WEST 

Covers every phase of the building in¬ 
dustry throughout British Columbia. 
Keep in touch with proposed public and 
private improvement through the Jour¬ 
nal of Commerce, published three times 
each week by the 

RECORD PUBLISHING CO., Ltd. 

Send Money Order or Check 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1 A MONTH 

Vs -—— - 











12 


The Building Code 


f MAin 0453 WISTEEN GEAN1TE CO. C. J. CARLSON‘S 

j Quarries at Index: Cutting Plant at 1619 Westlake Avenue, Seattle { 

I Office 7 Flatiron Bldg. Seattle. Estimates on Granite Work. ‘ 

V_____ _✓ 


G. C. BURKE R. T. EVANS 

CITY ELECTRIC & FIXTURE CO. 

ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS 

LIGHTING FIXTURES, ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 
WIRING, REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES 
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 


Phone EL iot 5415 218 James Street j 





The rainier valley 


The Contractor and Builder who is contemplating 
Construction Work of any kind is reminded of the 
unusually tine facilities for movement of Carload 
Shipments possessed by the 

SEATTLE AND RAINIER VALLEY 
RAILWAY COMPANY 

-----—-— -——---- j 




















The Building Code 


13 



For First Mortgage Loans 


Particularly for Building Loans on Homes, 
Apartments or Business Blocks 

CONSULT THE LOAN DEPARTMENT 

of 

SEATTLE TITLE TRUST CO. 

Capital and Surplus $600,000 
114 COLUMBIA STREET, Corner SECOND AYE. 


Our own money always available for loans which 
comply with our requirements. We aTe also loan 
representatives of the Metropolitan Life Insurance 
Company of New York, for “Metropolitan Plan” 
loans (3 to 15 years); for the Occidental Life Insur¬ 
ance Company of Los Angeles, for farm loans; and 
for the Dime & Dollar Savings & Loan Assn., housed 
with us, for monthly payment loans. 

We loan in Seattle, and throughout the State. 
Talk over with us the problem of financing your 
new building. We can help you. 


SEATTLE TITLE TRUST CO. 

A Trust Company—NOT a Bank 

REGINALD IT. PARSONS, Chairman of the Boai’d 
WORRALL WILSON, President 
E. C. OGGEL, Vice President and Title Officer 
W. B. SHOEMAKER, Vice President and Trust Officer 
CHARLTON L. HALL, Secretary and Mgr. Title Department 
J. ARTHUR YOUNGER, Manager Mortgage Loan Department 


SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES IN CONNECTION 


















14 


Tiie Building Code 


BRING YOUR ROOFING PROBLEMS 

TO US 

Tenax No. 2 is unsurpassed for composition roofing. 

Tenax No. 1 is best for coating ready roofing, dipping pipe, etc. 

There is a special grade of Asphalt for Paving, for Binding, for Con¬ 
crete, Surfacing, for Joint Filler. 

We Make and Market Them All 

' UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA 

Producers and Refiners of All Petroleum Products 

3000 Railroad Avenue Seattle, Wash. 

V__ J 


SEATTLE BOILER WORKS, Inc. 

FRANK F. HOPKINS, Proprietor 

MANUFACTURE E.S 

Marine and Stationary Boilers; Oil and Water Tanks; Most Economi¬ 
cally Operated Hot Water Heaters; Sheet Iron 
Work of All Descriptions 

MANUFACTURERS AND ERECTORS OF 
Steel Pipe Lines and Penstocks, Tower Tanks, Smoke Stacks, Refuse 
Burners and Tops a Specialty 

Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Wire Cloth for Burner Tops 
and Smoke Stacks 

Phone SU nset 0555 Residence SU nset 1209 


REPAIRING DONE ON SHORT NOTICE 

1128-32 WEST 45TH 8TBEET 


SEATTLE 


WE HAVE COMPLETELY EQUIPPED 

In the First Ten Months of 1923 

Fourteen of the Best New Apart¬ 
ment Houses in Seattle With 

Electric Ranges 

Names Will Be Furnished on Application. There Is No 
Substitute for the Electric Range in 

ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE 
CLEANLINESS 
CONVENIENCE 
SUPERIOR COOKING 

Puget Sound Power & Light Company 


Seventh Avenue 
and Olive Street 



MA in 
5 0 00 



















The Building Code 


15 


EiZEWOOD & MT. BAKER LUMBER YARD 

I F. K. Willis & Sons, Props. LUMBER AND BLDG. MATERIALS I 

i Yard: Genesee and 43rd Ave. So. Phone RAnier 0049 | 

V._/ 

HENDRIKSON & ALSTROM — GENERAL C0NTRACR0RS 


403 Seaboard Building: 


EL iot 2734 



WILLIAM S. KELTON 


WILLIAM KELTON COMPANY 

GENERAL CONTRACTORS. 


Building Alterations and Repairs. 

ESTIMATES FURNISHED 

KS NORTH PHONE GArfid 5450 


PHONE EL lot 2398 

HANS PEDERSON 

GENERAL CONTRACTOR. 

303 ALASKA BUILDING, 



SEATTLE, WASH. 


f 


^ J) 

GRANT SMITH & CO., 


CONTRACTORS 

944 Henry Building. SEATTLE, WASH. 




Concrete for Permanence 

“ Olympic” Brand for Excellence 

Olympic Portland Cement Co., Ltd. 

Factory at Bellingham, Wash. 

Sales Offices: 3 r 7 

Balfour, Guthrie & Co., Stuart Building, Seattle 
Perkins Building, Tacoma 



















16 


The Building Code 


RAINOIL 


A Transparent Waterproofing 

POE 

Brick, Tile or Concrete 


A Guaranteed Protection for the Builder 

Phone GA rfld 7007 1717 Westlake Ave. N. 


A. M. Castle & Co. 

OF WASHINGTON 

32 West Connecticut St. 

Heavy Hardware, Iron and Steel Building 
Materials and Contractors’ Supplies. 

“ARMCO” Rust-Resisting Ingot Iron Sheets, Plates, 
Eave Trough, Conductor Pipe, Elbows and Shoes. 


WAREHOUSE: 

1215 Railroad Avenue South. 

SEATTLE 















The Building Code 


17 


A. C. Walter: ME Irse 5395 C. D). BRADY: KE nwd 1935 

WALTER & Bit AD Y, GENERAL CONTRACTORS 
317 Hoge Annex, Seattle “We Build ’Em" 


We Sell Sites for Homes, Apartments, Garages, 
Commercial and Industrial Buildings 


208 COLUMBIA ST. 



SEATTLE 


JOHN HASTIE, Pres. 


HENRY LOHSE, Vice Pres. 


^ SOUND CONSTRUCTION & 
ENGINEERING CO. 



GENERAL CONTRACTORS 


1011 Lowman Building 


EL iot 4961 


SEATTLE 



Product 
of the 
Northwest 


OUR BUSINESS--Laundry Trays 

WE ATTEND TO IT 


Made of DURO STONE — lasts forever — 
always in stock, and ever ready to serve you. 


SEATTLE LAUNDRY TRAY CO. 

1547 Westlake Avenue North 

^ _____ 


PHONE 

GA&FXEED 

1722 




















IS 


The Building Code 


f --—“— -- 

I EL iot 7569 EL iot 2570 

Anything in Lumber 

Lockwood Lumber Company 


WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 

^OFFICE AND YARD: THIRD AYE. AND CLAY ST. SEATTLE 1 


/ - ' 

QUEEN CITY LUMBER CO . 

EAST 68TH AND RAVENNA AVE., SEATTLE KE nwd 4757 

---- > 


Telephone GA rfld 1411 


GOULD 

LUMBER 

CO. 


FIR LUMBER 


13th and Nickerson Street 

Seattle | 

V._ J 

---. 

BELL LUMBER COMPANY 

A Good Place to Buy Lumber 

“BY THE UNIVERSITY BRIDGE” 

QUALITY AND SERVICE 

655 Bwt 39th Street Phone ME1 rse 0118 

__ _ __ > 



CAHOON 

LUMBER 

CO. 


LUMBER, SHINGLES, 
LATH, ROOFING 
PAPER 


RAINIER AVENUE 
at 

GRAHAM 
RAnier 0029 

-- } 


































19 


The Building Code 


WASHINGTON STATE CHAPTER 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS 


MEMBERSHIP LIST 


HONORARY ASSOCIATES 

Seattle 

Josenhans, T. J.4524 Lowman Dr. 

Stephen, James..511 Thompson Bldg'. 

Tacoma 

Bullard, G. W.Provident Bldg. 

MEMBERS 

Seattle 

Albertson, A. H<-727 Henry Bldg. 

Alden, Chas. H,-631 Central Bldg. 

Baeder, Louis.. 1011 Securities Bldg. 

Bebb, Chas. H.710 Hoge Bldg. 

Baker, Frank L.. . . Hoge Bldg. Annex 
Blackwell, J. E. ..Hoge Bldg. Annex 
Blogg, Herbert A... .Thompson Bldg. 

Brust, W. G.511 Thompson Bldg. 

Cote, Joseph S.Lyon Bldg. 

Field, Gerald C.Stuart Bldg. 

Ford, Sherwood D....630 Lyon Bldg. 

Gould, Carl F.710 Hoge Bldg. 

Graham, John. . .Dexter Horton Bldg. 

Holmes, J. L.509 Pantages Bldg. 

Houghton, E. W. 

.523 Railway Exchange Bldg. 

Huntington, D. R...1011 Alaska Blk. 

Ivey, Edwin J.613 Pacific Blk. 

Loveless. A. L.....513 Colman Bldg. 

McClelland, R. F.416 Crary Bldg. 

Menke, A. F.631 Central Bldg. 

Merriam, C. A.208 Columbia St. 

Moldenhaur, H. A.Alaska Bldg. 

Myers, David J.636 Central Bldg. 

Naramore, F. A.631 Central Bldg. 

Nevins, John R....1707-8 Hoge Bldg. 

Osborne, E. T.325 Leary Bldg. 

Park, Earl G.710 Hoge Bldg. 

Priteca, B. M.509 Pantages Bldg. 

Richardson, P. D.727 Henry Bldg. 

Riley, Howard H...4087 Arcade Bldg. 
Schack, James H...636 Central Bldg. 
Siebrand, Carl...Northern Life Bldg. 

Stephen, F. B_511 Thompson Bldg. 

Storey, 0. P.308 Pantages Bldg. 

Thomas, Harlan.Arcade Bldg. 

Willatzen, A. C. P...406 W^alker Bldg. 

Williams, E. R.1707-8 Hoge Bldg. 

Wilson, J. W.727 Henry Bldg. 

Tacoma 

Bell, H. A.National Realty Bldg. 

Borhek. R. E...National Realty Bldg. 

Dugan, Earl N.1112 Rust Bldg. 

Gove, George.. National Realty Bldg. 

Mock, E. T.Perkins Bldg. 

Russell, A. J...National Realty Bldg. 

Spokane 

Bertelaen, H. C...609 Sherwood Bldg. 

Held, Albert.Realty Bldg. 

Keith, G. H.618 Realty Bldg. 

Morrison, E. W.Symons Bldg. 

Price, Ernest V.626 Hutton Bldg. 


Rand, L. L.. .Rookery Bldg. 

Stimson, V. S.Symons Bldg. 

Westcott, Frederick. . 2146 E. 8th St 
Whitehouse, H. C...626 Hutton Bldg. 

Bellingham 

Piper, F. S... 1st National Bank Bldk. 

P ullm an, Washington 

Smith, Stanley A... 

.. Dept. Architecture, State College. 

Longview, Wash. 

Torbitt, Arch. N... .Longview, Wash. 

Wenatchee, Wash. 

Morrison, E. W.. 1st Natl. Bank Bldg. 

Moscow, Idaho 

Weaver, Rudolph. 

. .Dept, of Architecture, U. of Idaho 

Z»od Angeles, Calif. 

Knox, Alex. N...Central Bldg. 

Shanghai, China 

Vogel, Joshua H., Ww. 11 Museum Rd. 

CHAPTER MEMBERS 

Seattle 

Champney, E. F.Hotel Sorrento 

Lawton, George.Alaska Bldg. 

Tacoma 

Heath, Frederick. .Natl. Realty Bldg. 
Monterey, Calif. 

Dean, Marshall.... 101 Hoffman Ave. 

CHAPTER ASSOCIATES 

Seattle 

Clippenger, Don.630 Lyon Bldg. 

Dwyer, W. E.758 Empire Bldg. 

Dysart, Arthur.1542 43rd N. 

Haynes, Chas....511 Mehlhorn Bldg. 
Jones, Meredith..R.F.D. No. 2, Box 172 

Mallis, William.409 Lyon Bldg. 

Peters, Frederick J.... Seaboard Bldg. 
Stanley, J. C.. 205 Northern Life Bldg. 

Stoddard, Geo. W.303 Lyon Bldg. 

Tacoma 

McGuire. John E.432 Broadway 

Morrison, N. J.229 Perkins Bldg. 

Shaw, Frederick...414 Tacoma Bldg. 

Portland, Ore. 

Gifford, H. L.Elk's Club 

Aberdeen, Wash. 

Haynes, Charles A.Electric Bldg. 

Olympia, Wash. 

Wohleb, J. H.. .Cap. Natl. Bank Bldg. 
Spokane, Wash. 

Pehrson, G. A.816 Riverside Ave. 

Thompson, N. E...1126 Paulsen Bldg. 
Bos Angeles, Calif. 

Bain, William J. 

c/o R. D. Johnson, Union Bk. Bldg. 

























































20 


The Building Code 


THIS IS YOUR SERVICE 

USE IT! 

Free Booklets on the Uses of Concrete 
Are Yours for the Asking 


The Portland Cement Association offers you its serv¬ 
ice, without charge, on how and why to use Concrete. 
Our free booklets contain complete reliable instruc¬ 
tions, in every-day langauge, on every common use of 
Concrete. 

SOME OF THE BOOKLETS ARE: 

“Recommended Practice for 
Portland Cement Stucco” 
“Concrete Basements and Foundations” 
“Concrete Building Bloch and Brick” 
“Concrete Block Garages” 
“Concrete Swimming and Wading Pools” 
“Concrete Schoolhouses” 

These are only a few. If none of these covers the 
job you have in mind, probably we have one that does. 
Write us about your work and we’ll try to help you. 
There are no strings on this service. It’s free, and 
you are under no obligations in accepting it. 


PORTLAND CEMENT ASSN. 

A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION 

To Improve and Extend the Uses of Concrete 
SEABOARD BUILDING, SEATTLE 
Offices in 27 Other Cities 
















The Building Code 


21 


SEATTLE CHAPTER 

Associated General Contractors 

of America 

H. Y. Bogert, Executive Secretary, Phone Main 4709, 4134 Arcade Building 



MEMBERSHIP LIST 


BIT ELDING CONTRACTORS 
DIVISION 

Arvesen & Lidral. . . .Alaska Building 

Butler, W. T.527 Central Bldg. 

Carkeek, Chas. W..Arcade Bldg. 

Cawsey, C. C.Haller Buldg. 

Dougan & Chrisman. .Hinckley Bldg. 
Garde, Peder P.503 Lyon Bldg. 

Great Northern Construction Co.. . 
.Alaska Bldg. 

Henrickson & Alstrom. 

.Seaboard Bldg. 

Hull Building Co. ..Mutual Life Bldg. 

Jacobson & Mangrum Co. 

.Thompson Bldg. 

Jenkins & Kauffman .Hinckley Block 

Kelton, Wm. Co.1231 Westlake N. 

Lofquist, A. 1925 Boren Ave. 

McDonald, Neil .Seaboard Bldg. 

MacRae Bros.American Bk. Bldg. 

Morgan, E. G. & Co. 

.225 Ry. Exch. Bldg. 

Mortensen, Nelse & Co. 

.Westlake N. Ss Galer 

Murdock & Eckman. 

.520 Thompson Bldg. 

Mowat, A. F.Arcade Bldg. 

Odell, Mark.Henry Building 

Pacific Construction & Timber Co.. 
.Mutual Life Bldg. 

Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co. 
.Central Building 

Pacific States Construction Co.. . . 
.520 Colman Bldg. 

Pederson, Hans.Alaska Bldg. 

Parker & Wood.Bremerton 

Quist, A. W. & Co.311 Hoge Bldg. 

Rounds, E. J., & Son...Walker Bldg. 

Rounds-Clist Co.Walker Bldg. 

Ryden* J. P.1717 Surpmit Ave. 

Scherer & Carlson.Ill Pine St. 

Smith, Grant & Co.Henry Bldg. 

Sound Construction & Engineering 
Co.|.|.Lowman Bldg. 

Sylliaasen & Sando.Crary Bldg. 

Stewart, H. D... .American Bk. Bldg. 

Strandberg & Robinson. 

.4161 Arcade Bldg. 

Walter & Brady.415 Hoge Annex 

Warrack Construction Co. 

.1428 N. 34th St. 


West Coast Construction Co. 

.Seaboard Bldg. 

West Service Co. ..3510 Fremont Ave. 

Western Construction Co. 

.Seaboard Bldg. 

Wills, Wm.Thompson Bldg - . 

Woeck, Peter.4162 Arcade Bldg. 

HIGHWAY, PUBLIC WORKS AND 
RAILROAD CONTRACTORS 
DIVISION 

Coluccio & Erickson. 

.307 Thompson Bldg. 

Creelman, C. L. Co.1079 25th No. 

Dowell & Clark, Inc.. Securities Bldg 
Forrestal & Coyle...901 Westlake N. 
Goerig, A. C.Pantages Bldg. 

Independent Asphalt Paving Co... 
.Seaboard Bldg. 

Mattson, John.232 Pioneer Bldg.. 

McHugh Construction Co. 

.517 3rd Ave. N*. 

Otteson, John.2523 32nd So. 

Paduano & Crisman. .. . 1546 12th So. 

Parks, E. C.522 Valley St, 

Petersen, Andrew. .232 Pioneer Bldg. 
Richardson, Mark....3434 14th West 

Romano & Co. 123 23rd So. 

Smith, J. L.304 West 34th St. 

Stevenson, R. G.1327 N. 34th St. 

Stillwell Bros.3220 9th Ave. So. 

Swensson Construction Co. 

.Arcade Bldg. 

Traphagen, D. H. ...315 Walker Bldg. 

FILEBRIVERS AND BRIDGE 
BUILDERS SECTION 

Culliton Bros. (J. G.)..5248 17th N.E. 
Gerrick & Gerrick. .403 Central Bldg. 

Jones, T. E.Colman Bldg. 

Lester & Monahan. 

.Pier A Smiths Cove 

Wood, J. R.621 Valley St. 

RAILROAD SECTION 

J. M. Bruce & Co. .American Bk. Bldg. 
Henry & McFee. .Northern Life Bldg. 

NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS 

Boyer, Harry.Yakima, Wash. 

Norris Bros.Burlington, Wash. 

McWillams & Ross. . .Yakima, Wash. 
PL E. Wilder. ..Sedro-Woolley, Wash. 







































































.22 


The Building Code 


Seattle’s 
Leading 1 Agency 


-IN 


Property Management 
Insurance 

Real Estate Investment 
Mortgage Loans 


OUR CENTRALLY LOCATED GROUND FLOOR 
OFFICE ADDS TO OUR FACILITIES AND TO 
THE GENERAL REAL ESTATE AND RENTAL 
SERVICE OFFERED YOU. 























THE BUILDING CODE 

CITY OF SEATTLE 


ORDINANCE NO. 31578 AS AMENDED TO JANUARY 1, 1924 


PAGE Noli 

PART I. ADMINISTRATION _ 23T 

PART II. DISTRICTS AND CLASS OP BUILDINGS_ 2 & 

PART III. STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS _ 3S 

PART IV. STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS _ 43’ 

PART V. FIRE HAZARDS REGULATIONS_ 66. 

PART VI MEANS OF EGRESS_*_ 77. 

PART VII. LIGHT AND VENTILATION_ 87. 

PART VIII. PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY_ 97: 

PART IX. BUILDINGS FOR SPECIAL USES_106 

PART X. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS _116 


PART 1 ADMINISTRATON 


Section 101. This ordinance shall 
be designated the Building Code of 
the City of Seattle. 

Section 102. The Building Code 
shall apply to construction, occu¬ 
pancy, use, maintenance, moving, de¬ 
molition, alteration and repair of all 
buildings, docks, wharves, retaining 
walls, fire! escapes, fire extinguishing 
equipment, either in or upon a build¬ 
ing, billboards, flag poles, chimneys, 
and similar structures. It shall ap¬ 
ply equally to both public and private 
property and shall be binding upon 
all owners, lessees, agents, architects, 
contractors, engineers, foremen and 
other persons having charge of the 
construction, occupancy, use, mainte¬ 
nance. demolition, alteration or repair 
of the structures or equipment to 
which this Code applies. 

Section 103. This ordinance shall 
not invalidate any permit, lawfully 
issued by the Superintendent of 
Buildings, provided said permit has 
not expired. 

Section 104. This ordinance shall 
not be construed as affecting any 
prosecution or proceeding for viola¬ 
tion of the provisions of any previous 
ordinance covering the same subject 
matter, but all proceedings or prose¬ 
cutions now pending for such viola¬ 
tions may be conducted to final judg¬ 
ment or determination as though this 
ordinance had not been enacted. 

Section 105. It shall be the duty of 
the Superintendent of Buildings to 
enforce this ordinance, except where 
otherwise expressly provided herein 
or by City Charter. 

Section 106. It shall be unlawful 
for any person to construct, alter, re¬ 
pair, remove or demolish any building 
or other structure or equipment reg¬ 
ulated herein, until a permit therefor 
has been obtained from the Superin¬ 


tendent of Buildings and until a per¬ 
mit placard furnished for said pur¬ 
pose by the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings has been posted in a conspicuous- 
place upon said premises. 

It shall be unlawful for any person, 
to construct, alter, repair, remove or 
demolish any building or other struc¬ 
ture, ox* any equipment regulate® 
herein, or to use or occupy any struc¬ 
ture except in accordance with the- 
provisions of this ordinance. 

Section 107. Minor repairs may be 
made to buildings in the Third and:* 
Fourth Building Districts without 
procuring a permit or giving notice- 
to the Superintendent of Buildings, 
providing the repairs are not in viola¬ 
tion of any of the provisions of this- 
ordinance, and providing nothing is- 
done to impair the strength of the- 
building or affect its egress, light, air, 
or ventilation. 

Section 108. Application for per¬ 
mits shall be made in writing to- the? 
Superintendent of Buildings on forms 
provided therefor. Each application, 
shall be signed by the owner, lessee 
or by an authorized agent of such, 
owner or lessee. There shall also be-, 
filed with such application two (2> 
sets of printed drawings and specifi¬ 
cations fully and definitely describ¬ 
ing the extent and nature of the work 
for which said permit is desired. Pro¬ 
vided, that the Superintendent of" 
Buildings may issue a permit without 
plans and specifications being filed 
when a specification written on the 
permit will describe the work con¬ 
templated in sufficient detail to* en— 
able him to determine whether or not 
it complies with all the provisions of 
the Building Code. Should such plans 
or specifications be incomplete, in¬ 
definite or unintelligible, the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings shall reject the 
same and refuse to issue a permit: 
based thereon. 
















24 


The Building Code 


Section 109. Every application for 
a permit to construct, move, alter, or 
repair a building, and the plans filed 
therewith, shall state the purpose for 
which all parts of the building are to 
be used, and the permit issued there¬ 
on shall carry with it the authority 
to use said building for the purpose 
.stated on the plans and permit 

Section 110. Every application shall 
state the estimated cost of the work 
contemplated, which cost shall be 
used in determining the estimated 
value of building improvements in 
the City. Should the Superintendent 
of Buildings believe that the estimate 
given by the applicant is too high or 
too low, he may change the estimate 
to an amount which he believes to 
he correct, providing he indicates on 
the permit that the estimate is his 
rather than the applicant’s. 

Section 111. As soon as possible 
after the application for permit has 
been filed, the Superintendent of 
Buildings shall examine same and 
any plans or specifications filed there¬ 
with and ascertain whether that 
which is contemplated therein com¬ 
plies with this Code. If they do not 
comply therewith, he shall so advise 
the applicant. If it is found that the 
application, plans and specifications 
indicate only that which complies 
with the Building Code, or they are 
corrected or amended so as to comply 
therewith, the Superintendent of 
Buildings shall issue to said appli¬ 
cant a permit based thereon and mark 
such plans and specifications “Ap¬ 
proved” for identification. One set 
shall be returned to the applicant, to¬ 
gether with a permit placard. The 
other set shall remain in the office of 
the Superintendent of Buildings until 
the work is completed and as long 
thereafter as deemed advisable by 
bim, after which time it shall be de¬ 
stroyed if not called for by the owner 
thereof. 

Section 112. It shall be unlawful 
without the consent of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings, for any person 
to change the plans or specifications 
after same have been approved and 
' a permit obtained thereon, or to pro¬ 
ceed with any work not in accord¬ 
ance with such plans and specifica¬ 
tions. Permits for altering or chang¬ 
ing plans or specifications shall be 
obtained in the same manner as here¬ 
inabove provided for the original per¬ 
mit. Nothing in this section shall, 
however, prevent minor deviations 
from the plans or specifications where 
the saine do not affect structural 
members, means of egress, the rapid¬ 
ity with which fire would spread, pro¬ 
visions for light, air and ventilation, 
or other essentials when the same 
shall not be a violation of the re¬ 
quirements of this ordinance-. In case 
any plans or specifications shall be 
changed after a permit is issued by 
amendment of such plans or specifi¬ 
cations, such amendment shall re¬ 
main attached to the plans as orig¬ 
inally approved and shall be avail¬ 
able for the information of inspectors 
and others interested in the carrying 
•on of such work. 

Section 113. No permit presuming 
to give authority to violate, or fail to 
comply with, the provisions of this 
ordinance shall be valid except in so 
far as the work or use to which it 
authorizes is lawful. 

The issuance of a permit upon 


drawings ana specifications shall not 
prevent the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings from thereafter requiring the 
correction of errors in said plans and 
specifications or from preventing 
building operations being carried on 
thereunder when in violation of this 
Code or of the City Charter. 

Section 114. A permit issued here¬ 
under shall be valid only for the 
number of days stated therein and in 
no case for a longer period than one 
(1) year from the date of issuance. 

Section 115. It shall be unlawful 
for any person to prevent, or seek to 
prevent, or in any manner interfere 
with, the Superintendent of Buildings 
or his authorized representative, in 
any inspection of any structure, 
equipment or construction operation 
over which the Building Code gives 
him jurisdiction, or to prevent the 
said Superintendent of Buildings, or 
any other public official designated 
herein from performing any duty im¬ 
posed by this ordinance. The Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings, or his author¬ 
ized representative, shall, before en¬ 
tering an occupied residence or apart¬ 
ment for the purpose of making such 
inspection, obtain the consent of the 
occupant thereof, or enter only for 
such inspection after giving twenty- 
four (24) hours’ written notice of in¬ 
tention so to do. 

Section 116. It shall be unlawful 
to change the use of a building or 
part thereof to a use requiring dif¬ 
ferent construction, egress or equip¬ 
ment without obtaining a permit so 
to do from the Superintendent of 
Buildings. Before such permit is is¬ 
sued he shall determine whether or 
not the construction, arrangement 
and equipment of such building con¬ 
form to the requirements of this Code 
for the use intended. Should they be 
found to conform the permit shall 
then be issued, but should they not 
conform the building shall not be 
used for the contemplated use until 
such alterations in construction, ar¬ 
rangement and equipment have been 
made as are necessary to make the 
building conform to the requirements 
of this Code for the proposed use. 

Nothing herein shall be construed 
to require a permit for a change of 
tenants so long as the character or 
nature of the use is not changed. 

It shall be the duty of the Fire 
Marshal to notify every owner or les¬ 
see who is using, or causing to be 
used, any lot or building or other 
structure for any purpose when the 
use thereof constitutes a violation of 
any of the provisions of the Building 
Code, and it shall be unlawful to con¬ 
tinue to so use said lot or building or 
other structure after having been 
notified by the Fire Marshal. The 
Fire Marshal may cause any unlaw¬ 
fully occupied structure or lot to be 
immediately vacated by notifying the 
owner thereof, or lessee, in writing 
or by posting a notice on the prop¬ 
erty. 

The above shall not be considered, 
however, as relieving the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings from enforcing 
any of the provisions of this ordi¬ 
nance relating to change of use, 
should he discover violation thereof 
during the perfoi-mance of his duties. 

Section 117. It shall be the dutv of 
the Fire Marshall to see that the 
means of egress, fire escapes, sprin- 




25 


The Building Code 


kler systems, stand-pipes, division 
walls, fire doors, construction for seg- 
xegating dangerous uses and all other 
parts of buildings or equipment 
thereof which are intended to assist 
in the extinguishing of Are, or to 
prevent the origin or spread of fire, 
or to safeguard life or property from 
fire, shall be maintained in a usable 
and safe condition, and it shall be un¬ 
lawful to fail to so maintain them or 
to fail to immediately comply with 
any lawful notice or order of the 
Fire Marshal made in accordance 
with thei provisions hereof. 

As soon as any fire extinguishing 
equipment is installed in or upon any 
building, it shall be the duty of the 
Fire Marshal to inspect the same and 
notify the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings as to whether or not such equip¬ 
ment is installed in accordance with 
the provisions of this Code. 

Section 118. All buildings and other 
structures shall be safe from col¬ 
lapse or structural failure of any 
kind, and, except as otherwise pro¬ 
vided, the requirements of this or¬ 
dinance shall be considered the stan¬ 
dard of safety, provided that a struc¬ 
ture built under authority of, and in 
accordance with, former building or¬ 
dinances shall not be required to have 
structural alterations or additions 
made thereto r except where the 
strength, of the structure has so de¬ 
teriorated as to make it unsafe. 

Section 113. The Superintendent of 
Buildings is authorized and empow¬ 
ered to direct and require that any 
building, or portion thereof, remain 
vacant or be vacated, removed or de¬ 
molished, by posting a notice to that 
effect conspicuously thereon or by 
notifying in writing the owner, lessee 
or person in charge, whenever it be 
found that the following conditions, 
or any of them, exist: 

(a) That such building has been 
erected, altered or required subse¬ 
quent to the passage of this ordinance 
to a manner contrary to the pre¬ 
visions hereof or the permit issued 
hereunder. 

(b) That the construction, arrange¬ 
ment or equipment of such building, 
or portions thereof, is contrary to the 
provisions of this Code for the pur¬ 
pose for which such building is used 
or occupied. 

(c) That such building is unsafe 
to human life or to property from 
any cause whatever or in imminent 
danger of so becoming. 

(d) That such building is not pro¬ 
vided, to the extent and in the man¬ 
ner required by ordinance, with prop¬ 
er and sufficient means of egress in 
case of fire or of fire protective and 
fare extinguishing apparatus or of 
light and ventilation. 

Section 120. The Superintendent of 
Buildings shall inspect, or cause to 
be inspected, every building or other 
structure or anything attached to or 
connected therewith which he has 
reason to believe is structurally un¬ 
safe or dangerous, and if he finds it 
unsafe or dangerous, he shall forth¬ 
with in writing notify the owner, 
agent or person in charge of the 
building to make secure or remove 
such unsafe attachment or structure 
and shall affix in a conspicuous plaee 
upon the exterior of said building or 
other structure a notice of its danger¬ 
ous condition; The person so notified 
shall promptly make secure or re 


move said building, structure, attach¬ 
ment or connection. 

Section 121. If the public safety 
sc requires, the Superintendent of 
Buildings, with the approval of the 
Mayor, may at once enter any build¬ 
ing deemed unsafe, the land on which 
it stands, or the abutting land or 
ouildings, with such assistance as he 
may require, and make the same safe, 
and may erect fences, barriers or 
such other devices for the protection 
of the public as may be necessary, 
and shall charge to the owner or his 
authorized agent such costs as may 
be incident to the work. 

Section 122. Every day that any 
person shall continue to occupy prem¬ 
ises after the issuance and posting 
of a notice by the Superintendent oi 
Buildings directing their vacation 
shall be deemed a separate offense 
committed by the owner or his agent. 

Section 123. It shall be unlawful 
for any person to remove, mutilate, 
destroy or conceal any notice issued 
and posted by the Superintendent of 
Buildings pursuant to the provisions 
cf this Code. 

Section 124. The Superintendent of 
Buildings shall have authority to or¬ 
der the immediate suspension of all 
or any portion of the work on any 
structure, equipment or excavation 
over which this Code gives him jur¬ 
isdiction, by posting a notice to that 
effect on such structure or premises 
whenever it be found by him that 
such work is being performed with¬ 
out a lawful permit or that the draw¬ 
ings and specifications bearing the 
approval of his office are not avail¬ 
able for examination on the premises, 
or that the work is not being carried 
on in conformity with the permit oi 
is in violation of this ordinance, or 
that such suspension is necessary to 
the proper inspection of the work 
previously performed, or that the 
Vk ork is being conducted in a danger¬ 
ous or unsafe manner, and it shall bo 
unlawful for any person to continue 
any such work after the posting of 
said notice by the Superintendent of 
Buildings, or to occupy any building 
or premises after a vacation, removal 
or demolition notice has been given 
or posted. 

Section 125. Any implied require¬ 
ments of this ordinance which are 
not specifically covered herein but 
necessary to procure or maintain ade¬ 
quate strength or stability of build¬ 
ings or other structures or to safe¬ 
guard the occupants thereof or the 
public, as well as interpretation of 
any conflicting provisions of the 
Building Code or of any statement 
therein the meaning of which is ob¬ 
scure, shall be determined by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 126. When the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings and an appli¬ 
cant for permit, or other interested 
party, cannot agree as to the correct 
interpretation of any part of the 
Building Code, said applicant or other 
party may appeal from the interpre¬ 
tation of the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings, or from any requirements of his 
not specifically covered by ordinance, 
to the Board of Appeals by paying 
Ten ($10.00) Dollars into the City 
Treasury and giving written notice 
of appeal to the secretary of the 
Board of Appeals and a copy thereof 
to the Superintendent of Buildings. 






126 


The Building Code 


^Should the Board of Appeals decide 
4hat the interpretation of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings is not the true 
.and correct interpretation and should, 
therefore, sustain the appeal, the de¬ 
posit of Ten ($10.00) Dollars shall 
<h© returned to the applicant by the 
City Treasurer. 

No appeal shall be granted by the 
Board of Appeals without rendering 
a written opinion of what said Board 
decides to be the true and correct 
interpretation of all parts of the 
.Building Code which are interpreted 
$>y the Superintendent of Buildings 
as forbidding that which the appel¬ 
lant desires to do. Such written 
©pinion shall appear in the minutes 
-of the Board and shall be conspicu¬ 
ously posted in the office of the 
Superintendent of Buildings, and nc 
:.permit based upon the granting of an 
appeal shall be issued by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings until the Board 
sshall have j endered such written 
©pinion in accordance with the pro¬ 
visions herein provided. 

It shall be the duty of the Board 
©f Appeals to submit to the Mayor, 
on or before the 1st day of April of 
each year, a report of its activities 
£or the preceding year. 

Section. 132. The following words 
.and expressions, wherever used in the 
Building Code, are used in the sense 
defined in this section: 

ALLEY: A public thoroughfare 
which is less than twenty (20) feet 
in width, or one which is twenty (20) 
leet or more in width but unnamed. 

APARTMENT or FEAT: Any num¬ 
ber of rooms occupied as the dwell¬ 
ing place of but one family, except 
that it shall not include a residence 
as herein defined. 

APARTMENT HOUSE or FLAT 
BUILDING: A building containing 

4>ne or more apartments. 

AREA: The term “area.” when ap¬ 
plied to the floor of a building, shall 
mean the number of square feet lying 
within the plane of the floor and 
hounded by the exterior faces of the 
-enclosing walls. 

AREAWAY: A space below the 

surface of the ground adjacent to, 
and outside of, a building and used 
in connection therewith. 

AUTOMATIC DOOR or WINDOW: 
One which is arranged to 1 close when 
released by the action of heat. 

BALCONY: A partial floor having 
an area of not more than fifty per 
cent. (50%) of the area of the room 
In which it is located. 

BILLBOARD: A structure, or any 
-portion thereof, used principally for 
the displaying thereon of advertise¬ 
ments and having an advertising sur¬ 
face in excess of twenty-four (24) 
square feet. 

BILLBOARD ADVERTISING SUR¬ 
FACE or FACE: The solid surface, 
Including mouldings, modillions, etc., 
upon which billboard advertisements 
are painted, pasted or fastened, or the 
plane in which, silhouetted or illumi¬ 
nated letters, characters or pictures 
producing a billboard advertisement, 
are placed. The dimensions of the 
face of billboards shall be measured 
to the extreme edges of the solid 
faces of boards, and on electric signs 
to the extreme edges of the advertise¬ 
ment. 

BILL POSTER: Any person who 
places on any billboard, fence, or sur¬ 
face of a building any advertisement, 
-except the following: 


An advertisement which is owned 
by the person whose business it ad¬ 
vertises, which advertises said busi¬ 
ness exclusively, and which is located 
on the premises on which the busi¬ 
ness it advertises is located; and ad¬ 
vertisement which advertises exclus¬ 
ively the sale or lease of the prop 
erty upon which it is located. 

BUILDING: Any structure built 

for the support, shelter, or enclosure 
of persons, animals or chattels, and 
when separated by division walls 
without openings, each portion so 
separated shall be deemed a separate 
building. 

BUILDING, WATERFRONT: A 

building having at least twenty-five 
per cent. (25%) of its ground floor 
area supported on piles above fresh 
or salt water, and so used as to mako 
the maintenance of a division wail 
separating the portion over the land 
from the portion over water imprac¬ 
ticable. This shall not be construed 
to include buildings constructed over 
the water which comply in all re¬ 
spects with the provisions of the 
Code for buildings constructed on 
land, except as to foundations. 

CLUB: A building used for the 

mutual entertainment, recreation and 
lodging of the members only of an 
organized club or society and their 
guests. 

COURT: Any part of a lot or the 
space above it which is unoccupied 
from the ground to the sky, or from 
an intermediate floor to the sky; and 
in relation to a story of a building, 
it shall mean the part of a lot which 
is unoccupied above a horizontal 
plane passing through said story at 
the level of the sill of the lowest 
window transmitting light from the 
court to said story. The term “court” 
shall not include vent shafts. 

COURT—EXTERIOR: A court 
which is bounded on one or more 
sides by a street or alley. 

COURT—INTERIOR: Any court 
other than an exterior court, as here¬ 
in defined. 

DETENTION, PLACES OF: Houses 
of correction, police stations, deten¬ 
tion stations and jails. 

DIVISION OF A BUILDING: That 
part of a building which, because of 
its area or occupancy, is separated or 
required to be separated from other 
parts of the building by a division 
wall or walls. 

DIVISION WALL: An interior wall 
dividing a building and extending 
from the ground to and through the 
roof. 

DOOR: See “Self-closing” and 

“Automatic.” 

DWELLING: A residence. 

DWELLING PLACE: A building, 
or part thereof, which is occupied by 
one or more families, who live there¬ 
in and cook their own food upon said 
premises. 

ELECTRIC SIGN: A billboard 

having thereon an advertisement 
which is formed from letters, char¬ 
acters, pictures, or combinations of 
the same, either silhouetted or out¬ 
lined with electric lights. 

ESTABLISHED GRADE: The side¬ 
walk or alley elevation along the 
property line as established by pub¬ 
lic improvements. 

FACTORY: A building used for 

manufacturing articles by machinery. 

FAMILY: Any number of individ¬ 
uals preparing their food in common 
and living together as a single house- 






The Building Code 


l£J- - - „ * _ . , _ , -fry;*** 

keeping unit, but'not including a 
group of more than eight (8) indi¬ 
viduals unrelated by blood or mar¬ 
riage. 

FIREPROOF OPENING: An open¬ 
ing which is equipped with either 
fire-doors or fireproof windows. 

FLAT BUILDING: See “Apartment 
House.” 

GARAGE: A building, or portion, 
thereof, in) which a motor vehicle is 
kept for storage, repair or for any 
other purpose, except that it shall not 
oe considered to include a building, 
or portion thereof, in which the only 
motor vehicles kept are in transit or 
are kept temporarily during the day¬ 
light hours only for changing of tires 
or batteries, or are unused motor 
vehicles temporarily in storage and 
containing no inflammable fuel. 

Size B GARAGE: One having a 
total floor area not to exceed five 
hundred fifty (550) square feet. 

Size A GARAGE: One having a 
total floor area in excess of five hun¬ 
dred fifty (550) square feet. 

GAUGE: The term “gauge,” when 
used in this ordinance with reference 
to the thickness of sheet metal, re¬ 
fers to Birmingham Wire Gauge 
when the gauge number indicated is 
from 0000 to 9, inclusive, but refers 
to United States Standard Gauge 
when the gauge number is from 10 
to 38, inclusive. 

GRADE: See "Established” and 

“Natural Grade.” 

HABITABLE ROOM: Any room 
occupied in a place of habitation, 
refuge or detention, as a kitchen, 
dining room, living room, parlor, bed- 
ioam, library, etc., in distinction from 
a closet, bathroom, water closet room, 
corridor, laundry, fhrnace or boiler 
room, storage room, or other utility 
r#om. 

HABITATION, PLACE OF: Resi¬ 
dences, hotels, apartment houses, 
flats, boarding or lodging houses, dor¬ 
mitories and clubs. 

HARD PLASTER: A wall plaster 
made of gypsum with which may 
be ground and mixed sand, fibre, as¬ 
bestos, wood pulp or other suitable 
aggregate, or a plaster made of ce¬ 
ment mortar and lime putty. 

HOSPITAL: Any building for 

housing sick persons, including ma¬ 
ternity hospitals, sanitariums, etc. 

HOTEL: A building in which is 

conducted the business of lodging the 
public and which is occupied by more 
than six (6) guests or lodgers. 

HOUSEBOAT: A building con¬ 

structed on a float and not equipped 
with any motive power. 

INSPECTOR: The Superintendent 
of Buildings of the City of Seattle, 
or any of his duly authorized assist¬ 
ants. 

LIFE OF PERMIT: The length of 
time, measured from the date of the 
issuance of a permit, during which it 
is lawful to carry on, under the 
authority of said permit, the work of 
constructing, altering, repairing, re¬ 
moving or demolishing of any build¬ 
ing or other structure or equipment. 
The expression, however, shall not 
apply to the period of time during 
which any structure or premises may 
be used for the occupancy indicated 
on the permit. 

LOT: A sub-division of a block, as 
shown by a recorded plot of an ad¬ 
dition to, or sub-division of, the City, 
or any portion of land, whether plat¬ 


27 


ted or unplatted, considered as a unit 
of property and described by metea 
and bounds; if one or more lots are 
built upon as a unit of property, they 
shall, for the purpose of this ordi¬ 
nance, be considered as a single lot. 

LOT LINE: The boundary line of 
a lot. ' 

MASONRY: Brick, stone, tile or 

terra cotta laid in mortar or con- 
crete. 

MOTOR VEHICLE: A vehicle 
which is self-propelled by power oth¬ 
er than muscular, except a vehicle 
running on rails. 

NATURAL GRADE: The undis¬ 

turbed natural surface of the ground* 

OCCUPIED: The word “occupied” 
shall be considered to include the 
phrase “designed to be occupied” and 
the phrase “intended to be occupied.”' 

OFFICE BUILDING: A building, 
the whole or larger part of which is 
used for office purposes, and no part 
of which is used as sleeping rooms 
except for the janitor and his family, 

OPEN LOT: A lot bounded on all 
sides by street or alley lines. 

OWNER: Any person having title 
to, or control as guardian or trustee 
of, a building or property. 

PARTY WALL: A wall used, or 
designed to be used, in common by 
two buildings. 

PENT HOUSE: A room construct¬ 
ed above the roof of a building and 
used exclusively to give head room 
above a stair, to house elevator ma¬ 
chinery, or provide working space 
above The elevator sheaves. 

PERSON: One or more natural 

persons of either sex, association, co¬ 
partnerships or corporations, whether 
acting by themselves or by a servant, 
agent or employee; the singular num¬ 
ber shall be held and construed to in¬ 
clude the plural, and the masculimj 
pronoun to include the feminine. 

PUBLIC HALL: A corridor ox 

passage way used in common by all 
of the occupants of a building. 
r RESIDENCE: A detached building, 
occupied exclusively as a dwelling 
place of one family, and the usual. 

I accessory occupancies. 

•“"RETAINING WALL: A wall sub¬ 
jected to lateral pressure. 

REFUGE-PLACES OF: Hospitals 
asylums, almshouses, buildings for 
housing the aged, infirm, imbeciles,, 
children or delinquents. 

SELF-CLOSING DOOR: One hav¬ 
ing a mechanical closing device which 
is not restrained in its action by a 
fusible link or otherwise, but which 
keeps the door closed at all times 
w hen not in use. 

STABLE: A building occupied by- 
cattle, sheep, goats or beasts of bur¬ 
den. 

STORAGE BUILDING: A building 
used wholly or in part for the dis¬ 
play or sale of goods, wares or roei* 
chandise. 

STREET: Any public thorough¬ 

fare other than an alley, as herein 
defined. 

THROUGH LOT: A lot running 
from street to street, but not located 
on a street corner. 

VENEER: An outer surface of 

brick, stone, concrete, tile or metal 
placed on a wall for decoration or 
protection. 

VENT SHAFT: Any part of a lot: 
or the space above it which is un¬ 
occupied from the ground to the sky 
or from an intermediate floor to the 
sky and which is not of large enough; 




28 


Tub: Building Code 


dimensions to comply with the court 
requirements, as set forth in this 
Code. 

WALL—BEARING: A wall de¬ 
signed to carry, in addition to its 
•own weight, some portion of the roof 
or floors of a building. 

WALL—NON-BEARING: A wall 
designed to carry only its own 
weight. 

WALL'—CURTAIN: A non-bearing 
wall built between columns and ex¬ 
tending through two (2) or more 
stories without intermediate support. 

WALL—FILLER: A wall built 


between columns and supported at 
each floor by beams, girders or slabs. 

WAREHOUSE: A building, or por¬ 
tion thereof, used principally for the 
storage of merchandise. 

WINDO W—AUTOMATIC: See 

“Automatic Door or Window.” 

WIRE-GLASS: Glass not less than 
one-quarter (%) inch thick, contain¬ 
ing wire fabric. 

WORKSHOP: A building, or por¬ 
tion thereof, in which articles of 
merchandise are manufactured or re¬ 
paired wholly or principally by hand, 
including garages or portions thereof, 
in which motor vehicles are repaired. 


PART 2 DISTRICTS AND CLASS OF BUILDINGS 


Section 201. There shall be four 
Ruliding Districts, named and defined 
as follows: First Building District, 
Second Building District, Third Build¬ 
ing District and Fourth Building Dis¬ 
trict. 

(The map shown in the appendix is 
intended to show building districts, 
and paragraphs 202 and 205, both in¬ 
clusive, which specifically define such 
districts are therefore deemed super¬ 
fluous to the general public and are 
omitted.) 

Section 210. There shall be four 
(4) classes of buildings, named as 
follows. Fireproof buildings, mill 
buildings, ordinary masonry buildings 
and frame buildings. 

Except as otherwise provided, all 
buildings hereafter constructed in 
any building district shall be of the 
class and height herein required for 
the respective district. 

Buildings in the first building dis¬ 
trict shall be either fireproof build¬ 
ings, mill buildings not higher thaif 
six (6) stories, or ordinary masonry 
buildings not higher than one (1) 
story. 

Buildings in the second building 
district shall be either ordinary ma¬ 
sonry buildings, not higher than two 
(2) stories, mill buildings or fire¬ 
proof buildings. 

Buildings in the third building dis- 
tric shall be either fireproof build¬ 
ings, mill buildings, ordinary ma¬ 
sonry buildings, frame dwellings not 
higher than two (2) stories, or other 
frame buildings not higher than one 
(1) story if roofed with shin’gles, and 
not higher than two (2) stories if 
roofed with three-ply prepared roof¬ 
ing or with roofing as required on 
mill buildings. 

Buildings in the fourth building 
district shall be frame, ordinary ma¬ 
sonry buildings, mill buildings and 
fireproof buildings. 

CLASSES OF BUILDINGS AND 
WHERE PERMITTED 

Section 211. The design, mate¬ 
rials or workmanship required for 
any particular class of buildings may 
be used in whole or in part any lower 
class of buildings if approved by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

A building of a higher class than 
is required for the building district 
In which it is located shall only be 
required to have the essential struc¬ 
tural features of its class, and such 
buildings shall at least comply in 
other respects with the requirements 
of buildings in said district; provided, 
however, that fireproof buildings over 
ten stories high shall comply with the 
requirements for fireproof buildings. 


FIREPROOF BUILDINGS AND 
MATERIALS DEFINED 

Section 212. Fireproof buildings 
shall conform to the following re¬ 
quirements: 

All materials used in the construc¬ 
tion of fireproof buildings, except as 
otherwise provided, shall be water¬ 
proof, incombustible and fireproof. 

Section 213. Fireproof materials 
shall mean materials which, when 
used for building purposes shall, in 
addition to all other requirements, be 
fire-resisting, incombustible, non-fusi- 
ble and waterproof under conflagra¬ 
tion conditions. Under such condi¬ 
tions they shall not consume, disinte¬ 
grate, or distill, but shall retain their 
normal forms and positions, together 
with adequate strength for the pur¬ 
poses for which such materials are 
used. 

Conflagration conditions shall be 
considered to be a continuous heat 
lasting four hours, between the tem¬ 
perature of 1500 degrees and 1700 de¬ 
grees Fahr., followed by a flood of 
water for five minutes applied under 
average fire hose conditions. 

Section 214. Fireproof materials 
are burned brick, dense tile, porous 
terra cotta, face terra cotta, mass con¬ 
crete, reinforced concrete ceramic 
tile, locked or riveted sheet metal 
finish, wood finish covered with locked 
or riveted sheet metal, wire glass in 
metal covered frames, steel and iron 
sections when fireproofed and any 
other materials approved by the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings after tests 
as defined by law. 

Section 215. Incombustibe ma¬ 
terials shall mean materials which, 
when used for building purposes shall 
not melt, distill or support combus¬ 
tion, but may lose their normal 
strength, forms and positions, when 
subjected to a heat of 1000 degrees 
Fahr., for one hour followed by a 
flood of water for one minute. 

Section 216. Incombustible ma¬ 
terials are wrought, rolled or cast 
metals when not fireproofed, stone, 
artificial stone; plaster blocks, cement 
mortar, rock-asphalt, cinder concrete, 
plaster on metal lath and metal stud- 



















The Building Code 


29 


ding; metal lath and thin wood stud¬ 
ding plastered solid; % inch wired 
glass and vault lights when approved 
by the Superintendent of Buildings, 
and such other materials as may be 
approved by him after tests as pro¬ 
vided by this Code. 

(No plaster of paris, sulphate of 
lime, coal, saw-dust, coke or partly 
consumed material shall be used 
where fireproof materials are re¬ 
quired, except that plaster of paris 
and sulphate of lime may be used in 
wall plaster and as a gauge for mor¬ 
tar. 

FIREPROOF BUILDING CON¬ 
STRUCTION DESCRIBED 

Section 217. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, all exterior walls and the walls 
of all exterior and party line courts 
shall be of masonry or of masonry 
in combination with iron or steel. All 
floors and roofs shall be constructed 
of brick arches, dense tile or norous 
hollow terra cotta arches, mass con¬ 
crete arches, reinforced concrete 
slabs, or a combination of them. 
Such brick, tile, terra cotta, 
mass concrete arches, or combination 
arches shall comply with regulations 
established by the Superintendent of 
Buildings based on tests as provided 
by this Code, or in accord with the 
“Standard Test for Fireproof Floors” 
of the American Society for Testing 
Materials. 

Section 218. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, all metallic structural members, 
excepting the metal work of stairs, 
marquees, tanks and tank supports 
and similar minor structures shall be 
protected by complete coverings of 
fireproof and non-conducting mate¬ 
rials. The outside of all metal col¬ 
umns, beams, girders and all other 
structural iron or steel in all street, 
alley, court or party line walls, shall 
be fireproofed solid. Such fireproof 
and non-conducting materials shall 
be burned brick, terra cotta, dense tile 
or concrete poured in place The sup¬ 
porting metal in the shafts of struc¬ 
tural iron, steel or reinforced concrete 
columns and struts erected in position 
where one or more sides are exposed 
to the weather, or are on a party line 
must be protected on all such exposed 
sides by not less than 4 inches of con¬ 
crete or 4 inches of hard burned brick 
laid in cement mortar; or eight inches 
of masonry laid in lime mortar; or 
two inches of concrete next to the 
metal and four inches of exterior ma¬ 
sonry enclosing the concrete. Soffits 
and exterior edges of beams exposed 
to the weather shall be fireproofed 
with not less than 2 y 2 inches of fire¬ 
proofing. Structural iron or steel in 
footings and foundations shall be 
solidly covered by at least four inches 
of concrete on all sides exposed to 
the earth. 

Section 219. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, all columns, beams, girders and 
other structural iron or steel, when 
not on the outside of the street, alley 
and court walls shall be solidly fire¬ 
proofed beyond all parts ol the metal 
with not less than two inches of con¬ 
crete, brick or terra cotta. 

Section 220. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, all edges or points of lugs, 
brackets, rivets or similar structural 
metal details shall be covered with 
not less than one inch of fireproofing. 
Where a facing such as stone, cast 
or wrought metal of suitable thick¬ 
ness is used which is not in itself 


fireproof the structural iron or steel 
shall be fireproofed solid independent¬ 
ly of such facing with not less than 
two inches of brick, dense tile, terra 
cotta, or concrete. Plastering shall 
not be considered as fireproofing ex¬ 
cept as elsewhere provided. Where 
concrete is user for fireproofing struc¬ 
tural iron or steel substantial wire 
mesh shall be wrapped about all ver- 
ticle and diagonal members and about 
the under parts of all horizontal mem¬ 
bers. 

Section 221. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, steel roof construction, where 
large steel trusses are used, may be 
left unfireproofed, provided such roof 
construction is readily accessible for 
inspection in every part. Space below 
such roof construction shall not be 
used for the sale, manufacture or 
storage of any materials other than 
fireproof or incombustible materials, 
unless separated from such roof con¬ 
struction by a fireproof ceiling. 

Section 222. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, finish floors of public halls and 
stair platforms shall be of stone, 
dense tile, ceramic tile, cement mor¬ 
tar, cement composition, concrete or 
other fireproof materials approved by 
the Superintendent of Buildings, and 
shall be at least two inches thick 
above the top of the supporting 
beams. Finish floors in other parts 
of the building may be of wood on 
wood sleepers, which shall be im¬ 
bedded in concrete brought up full 
and flush with top of the sleepers. 

Section 223, Fireproof openings 
metal covered shutters, or fitted with 
metal or metal'-covered frames and 
closed by metal or . metal-covered 
doors or shutters, or by metal or 
metal-covered sash glazed with %- 
inch wire glass, or by a combination 
of such doors, shutters and glazed 
sash. Sheet metal used for covering 
frames, doors, shutters and sash 
shall be lock-jointed or riveted. 

Fireproof openings shall be re¬ 
quired in fireproof buildings for all 
openings into interior courts, parts' 
line courts, and shafts not over 20 
feet no inches wide and 500 square 
feet in area; for all openings above 
the main roof level; for all openings 
in cellar or basement, all alley open¬ 
ings, and all other openings which 
are wholly or partly 15 feet no inches 
or less from an alley, except that 
fireproof openings shall not be re¬ 
quired in street fronts, provided no 
exposed woodwork shall project more 
than four inches beyond the building 
line. 

Fireproof buildings other than ware¬ 
houses, stores, workshops and fac¬ 
tories, if immediately opposite to fire¬ 
proof buildings across an alley, need 
not have fireproof openings between 
the basement ceiling and the roof, 
except that, if there is no fireproof 
building along the adjoining property 
line, then the openings which are 
wholly or partly 25 feet no inches or 
less from such property line shall be 
fireproof. 

^Section 224. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, all basement and cellar parti¬ 
tions and partitions enclosing stair¬ 
ways and elevator shafts shall be 
fireproof. Partitions enclosing the 
parts of public hallways which im¬ 
mediately adjoin stairs and elevators 
shall be fireproof except as to open¬ 
ings. All such partitions shall rest 
upon the structural parts of the build¬ 
ing and not upon wood floors. The 






30 


The Building Code 


solid parts of such partitions shall be 
built of burned brick, dense tile, por¬ 
ous terra cotta, mass concrete or re¬ 
inforced concrete. ■ Other materials 
meeting the “Standard Test of Fire¬ 
proofing Partitions” of the American 
Society for Testing Materials may be 
used if approved by the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings. 

Section 225. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, at least 50 per cent, of all par¬ 
titions within each suite shall be in¬ 
combustible or fireproof. All parti¬ 
tions separating one tenant from an¬ 
other, shall be incombustible or fire¬ 
proof. In large spaces occupied by 
one tenant the incombustible or fire¬ 
proof partitions shall be distributed. 
All incombustible or fireproof parti¬ 
tions which do not extend through the 
finished floor shall extend through 
the plaster of the ceiling and side- 
walls, or be otherwise attached to the 
walls and ceilings to the satisfaction 
of the Superintendent of Buildings. 
Incombustible partitions shall be 
built of metal lath, metal studs and 
cement plaster, artificial stone, com¬ 
position blocks, sheet metal over solid 
wood or metal lath and thin wood 
studding plastered solid. Other ma¬ 
terials may be used if they comply 
with the definition of incombustible 
materials, or if approved by the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings after tests, 
as provided by this Code. 

Section 226. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, the finish, trimmings and par¬ 
titions within suites not required to 
be fireproof or incombustible may be 
of wood, or wood and glass, provided 
no concealed air spaces are formed 
thereby. No wood shall be used in 
elevator shafts or stairways except 
handrails and finish window stools in 
stairways; and no wood base or 
wainscot shall be used in stairways 
or in public hallways adjoining stairs 
or elevators. 

HEIGHT OF FIREPROOF 
BUILDINGS 

Section 230. The height of a 
building above the street shall be 
measured from the average of the 
established grades bounding the 
ground story of the building, to the 
ceiling of the highest story. 

FIREPROOF BUILDINGS; 

Section 231. In fireproof build¬ 
ings, if metal or metal-covered trim 
and finish is used throughout, the re¬ 
duction of allowed floor areas may 
start two stories higher than herein¬ 
before provided. 

Section 232. Fireproof buildings 
shall comply with all other provisions 
of the Code relating to buildings in 
general or to fireproof buildings in 
particular. 

MILL BUILDINGS 

Section 236. Mill buildings shall 
conform to the following require¬ 
ments: 


In mill buildings all foundations, 
exterior walls and the walls of all 
exterior and party line courts shall 
be of masonry or of masonry in com¬ 
bination with iron or steel. The 
walls of all interior courts exceeding 
an area of 500 square feet or exceed¬ 
ing a width of 20 feet no inches shall 
be of masonry or of masonry in com¬ 
bination with iron or steel. All in¬ 
terior loads shall be carried to the 
foundations by walls or piers of ma¬ 
sonry, or by columns, girders and 
beams of wood, reinforced concrete, 
iron or steel. Wood columns shall 
not be less than 10 inches in least di¬ 
mension. Wood girders shall be not 
less than 8 inches in least dimension. 
Wood beams shall be not less than 6 
inches in least dimension. Wood 
stair carriages shall b© not less than 
4 inches in least dimensions. Wood 
risers and treads shall be not less 
than 2 inches in least dimension. 

Section 237. In Mill Buildings 
all steel or iron columns, wherever 
used, and all steel or iron beams and 
girders used in cellars or basements 
shall be fireproofed with two cover¬ 
ings of metal lath and plaster with 
a one-inch air space between, or fire¬ 
proofed as required for fireproof 
buildings. 

Section 238. In Mill Buildings, 
floors shall consist of an under and 
an upper floor. Under flooring shall 
be of splined, or tongued and grooved 
planks not more than 6 inches wide, 
dressed to a thickness of not less 
than 2% inches and spiked to joists; 
or the underfloor shall be constructed 
of not less than 2x4-inch members 
sized on one side and one edge, placed 
on edge and solidly spiked together. 

On the underfloor shall be placed 
one layer of 15-pound, waterproof 
paper, lapped and turned up at all 
walls, partitions and columns on 
which may be placed sleepers as shal¬ 
low as practicable, filled flush and 
full between with mineral wool or 
concrete or other approved fill or fire 
stop. 

The finish floor shall be tongued 
and groved flooring not more than 6 
inches wide, nor less than %-inch 
thick and laid diagonal or crosswise 
with the underfloor when practicable. 
The finish and underfloor shall not 
extend closer than *4-inch to the 
walls which are parallel to the under¬ 
floors. The %-inch space shall be 
filled with oakum or other elastic and 
waterproof material. Satisfactory 
firestops shall be provided to prevent 
the passage of fire through the floors 
at the columns. Other kinds of floor¬ 
ing may be permitted by the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings where required 
for specialized uses, provided they 
have the strength, fire-resisting and 
waterproof qualities required by this 
Code. 


SOLID PLASTER PARTITION 

(Box Channel, Metal Lath, Reno Plaster) LEADS ALL FORMS 

FIRE PROOF CONSTRUCTION 

Saves Money and Space; Greater Fire 
Resistance; Better Acoustics. WE WILL 
BE GLAD TO TELL YOU WHY. 










The Building Code 


31 


Section 239. In Mill Buildings, 
all floors shall be provided with gut¬ 
ters and scuppers for escape of water 
through outside walls as floor levels. 
All parapet walls shall be provided 
with scuppers over each down spout, 
not higher than the top of the lowest 
flashing. Gutters and scuppers may 
be omitted at floor levels in buildings 
used as places of habitation and pub¬ 
lic assembly and in other buildings 
if found impracticable by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings. 

Section 240. In Mill Buildings 
all roof planking shall be splined or 
tongued and groved not more than 6 
inches wide, spiked to the beams and 
dressed to a thickness of not less than 
2% inches; or, it shall be not less 
than 2x4 inch members sized on one 
side and one edge, placed on edge and 
spiked solidly together. 

The roof shall be covered with 
sheet metal, tar and gravel, asbestos 
tile or dense tile, laid in waterproof 
material, or other incombustible roof¬ 
ing, if approved by the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings after tests as pro¬ 
vided by this Code. Tar and gravel 
roofing may be used for slopes under 
15 degrees. Tar paper and* asbestos 
or dense tile tarred or cemented may 
be used for slopes under 30 degrees. 
Sheet metal roofing ^nay be used for 
slopes under 45 degrees. Fireproof 
materials and construction shall be 
used for slopes over 45 degrees. 

Section 241. In Mill Buildings all 
partitions shall be constructed in one 
of the following methods: (a) Of 
two thicknesses of tongued and 
grooved plank not more than six 
inches wide, dressed to thickness not 
less than 1 % inches, placed vertically 
with broken joints and solidly nailed 
together; (b) of one thickness of good 
material described in (a) and then 
lathed and plastered solid on both 
sides of partition; (c) laminated, of 
studding not less than 2x4 inches 
placed vertically, with edges to face 
of partition, joints broken, studs sol¬ 
idly spiked together and then lathed 
and plastered solid on both sides of 
partition, or covered with some other 
approved incombustible material; (d) 
of metal studs, metal lath and plaster 
of a solid thickness of 1% inches; 
(e) of wood studs not less than 1 
inch thick, lathed on one side with 
metal lath, and on the other side with 
overlapping strips of metal lath cov¬ 
ering the studs, the entire partition 
plastered solid with plaster finishing 
not less than 2 inches thick. 

Section 242. In Mill Buildings 
walls of interior courts, and shafts 
other than for stairs and elevators 
elesewhere provided, having an area 
less than 500 square feeet and a width 
of less than 20 feet no inches, shall 
be built of not less than 1%-inch 
plank, (doubled, with broken joints, or 
of 2x4-inch studs spiked together as 
required for partitions. Such walls 
shall be covered on the exterior by 
incombustible or fireproof materials 
and have incombustible or fireproof 
openings. Such walls shall be con¬ 
tinuous from above the main roof to 
the bottom of the shaft and shall not 
be cut off at the floor or ceiling levels. 

Section 243. In Mill Buildings, 
walls and floors of spaces where heat 
is generated shall be fireproof. All 
openings shall be fireproof, and all 
door openings protected by approved 
automatic fire doors. The ceiling of 


such places if not fireproof should be 
double, with a shallow air space be¬ 
tween, and divided into small air¬ 
tight compartments. The upper ceil¬ 
ing shall be metal lath and plaster 
applied directly to wood surfaces, 
leaving no air spaces. The lower 
ceiling shall be of metal lath and 
plaster hung on metal purlins and 
metal supports. 

Section 244. In Mill Buildings 
there shall be no concealed air spaces 
in any part of the construction ex¬ 
cept as herein provided. 

Low attic spaces of Mill Buildings 
used for offices and places of habi¬ 
tation or public assembly shall be 
allowed, provided the ceiling under¬ 
neath such space be plastered on 
metal lath hung on metal supports 
of sufficient strength to carry a uni¬ 
form live load of not less than 15 
pounds per square foot. Or, it shall 
be of floor members as required for 
Mill Buildings. The Superintendent 
of Buildings may require such attic 
spaces to be supplied with approved 
automatic sprinklers and may require 
a minimum height of 2 feet no inches 
in such space. 

Ceilings and walls may be lathed 
and plastered or covered with sheet 
metal or with wood ceiling boards 
when the same are applied directly to 
the surface without forming air 
spaces; or such walls and ceilings 
may be covered with metal lath and 
plaster or sheet metal leaving air 
spaces not more than iy 2 inches deep 
for piping or other utilities, provided 
such spaces are frequently firestopped 
into tight pockets to the satisfaction 
of the Superintendent of Buildings. 
Isolated concealed chases for piping 
and other utilities may be allowed in 
Mill Buildings provided such spaces 
are completely covered inside with 
sheet metal or metal lath and plaster, 
and provided such spaces are fire- 
stopped at every floor and ceiling with 
fireproof materials before being closed 
by sheet metal or metal lath and 
plaster, and provided they are ap¬ 
proved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. Sheet metal shall be ap¬ 
plied with long nails or otherwise to 
the satisfaction of the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings. 

Section 245. In Mill Buildings no 
wodowork shall be used on the outside 
of the exterior walls except window 
and door frames, doors, sash and 
store fronts, as hereinafter limited. 
No such exterior woodwork shall pro¬ 
ject more than four inches beyond 
the building line. Interior finish and 
trimmings may be of wood, provided 
they form no concealed air space. No 
woodwork shall be used above the 
main roof level unless it is construct¬ 
ed as required of partitions and cov¬ 
ered with 30 lbs. asbestos paper and 
sheet metal, or metal lath and cement 
plaster, except water towers and 
tanks when not enclosed. The frame¬ 
work of such towers shall be of mill 
construction, except as elsewhere 
provided, 

Section 246. In Mill Buildings all 
openings above the main roof level, 
and all openings in cellars, basements, 
boiler rooms, and other rooms where 
heat is generated shall be fireproof 
as defined for fireproof buildings. 

Mill Buildings in any building dis¬ 
trict which adjoin existing fireproof 
buildings shall have all exterior and 
party line openings fireproof, which 
are within 25 feet no inches of the 






32 


The Building Code 


fireproof building, except in street 
fronts. Mill Buildings in the Second 
Building District any part of which 
is built nearer than 44 feet no inches 
to a building line of the First Build¬ 
ing District, and all Mill Buildings 
in that part of the Second Building 
District bounded by the center line 
of Washington Street on the north, 
the center line of Fifth Avenue on the 
east, the center line of King Street 
on the south, and the center line of 
Railroad Avenue on the west shall 
have all exterior openings fireproof 
throughout the building, except street 
fronts. 

All Mill Buildings in the First 
Building District shall have all ex¬ 
terior openings fireproof except street 
fronts. 

Section 247. In Mill Buildings ap¬ 
proved automatic sprinklers shall be 
installed throughout all cellars, 
throughout all basements where any 
non-fireproof, combustible or inflam¬ 
mable materials are used, stored or 
manufactured, and throughout all 
boiler rooms cr other parts of Mill 
Buildings of the First and Second 
Building Districts where heat is gen¬ 
erated. All Mill Buildings in the 
Second Building District any part of 
which is built nearer than 44 feet no 
inches to a building of the First 
Building District, and all Mill Build¬ 
ings in that part of the Second Build¬ 
ing District bounded by the center 
line of Washington Street on the 
north, the center line of Fifth Avenue 
on the east, the center line of King 
Street on the south, and the center 
line of Railroad avenue on the west, 
shall have approved automatic sprink¬ 
lers installed throughout, except 
buildings or parts thereof used for 
places of habitation, refuge and de¬ 
tention or offices. All such sprinkler 
installations shall comply with regu¬ 
lations issued by the Superintendent 
of Buildings which shall not exceed 
the requirements of the National 
Board of Fire Underwriters. Roof 
tanks may be omitted in Mill Build¬ 
ings where sprinklers are only re¬ 
quired in cellars, basements, first 
stories, and in boiler rooms and other 
places where heat is generated. 

HEIGHT OF MILL BUILDINGS 

Section. 248. No side of a Mill 
Building shall exceed an average of 
80 feet no inches in height above the 
established grade along such side, 
nor be more than SO feet no inches 
above such grade at any point. No 
Mill Building shall exceed an aver¬ 


age of six stories nor exceed seven 
stories in any part. The height shall 
be measured from the established 
grade to the highest ceiling. In case 
such heights would exceed the heights 
allowed for fireproof buildings, then 
the heights shall be determined as 
required for fireproof buildings of the 
same occupancy. 

Towers, spires, or other similar 
features may be built of mill con¬ 
struction if not more than 25 feet 
no inches square and constructed to 
meet the approval of the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings. 

MILL BUILDINGS BLANKET 
CLAUSE 

Section 249. Mill Buildings shall 
comply with all other provisions of 
the Code relating to buildings in gen¬ 
eral or to Mill Buildings in particu- 

lar ‘ ORDINARY MASONRY 
BUILDINGS 

Section 255. Ordinary Masonry 
Buildings shall conform to the fol¬ 
lowing requirements: Ordinary Ma¬ 
sonry Buildings shall have all founda¬ 
tions, exterior walls, party line walls 
and the walls of exterior and party 
line courts, constructed of masonry, 
or masonry, iron and steel. 

Section 256. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, the wa^ls of interior courts 
and shafts shall be continuous from 
above the roof to the bottom of the 
shafts. They shall be constructed of 
two thicknesses of 1%-inch matched 
planks not more than 8 inches wide, 
put on vertically with broken joints. 
Or such walls may be constructed 
of 2x4-inch studs placed vertically 
and spiked solidly to each other flat¬ 
wise. The outside shall be covered 
with sheet metal properly lapped or 
lock-jointed, or with metal lath or 
approved plaster board and V 2 . inch 
of cement plaster. Or, such walls 
may be consrtucted of not less than 
3x4 inches open space studs firestop- 
ped four times in the height of each 
story, filled solid with masonry at 
each floor and at the roof, and lathed 
with metal lath or approved plaster 
board on both sides and covered with 
cement plaster. 

Section 257. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, the interior frame and fin¬ 
ish may be of wood, and the frame 
shall be of sufficient strength to 
carry its loads safely. Interior loads 
above the ground floor may be carried 
on bearing stud partitions except that 
not more than four floors and a roof 
may be so carried. Interior parti- 


FRANK CURTIS ROY CURTIS 

CURTIS BROS. 

HOUSE MOVERS 


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Before Betting Work in Our Bine Be Sure to Consult Us 

1220 ROY STREET 


PHONE CAPITL 1285 


SEATTLE. WASH. 










The Building Code 


33 


tion walls in dwellings when not more 
than two stories high and 30 feet no 
inches long may be built of 4-inch 
brickwork if satisfactory to the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings. 

Section. 258. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, bearing walls and parti¬ 
tions shall be constructed of not less 
than 2x4 studs, and if carrying more 
than one floor and roof, not less than 
3x4 inches or 2x6-inch studs. Studs 
shall be placed with their greater 
dimensions crosswise of the partitions 
and not more than 16 inches on cen¬ 
ters. Non-bearing partitions may be 
constructed of 2x4-inch studding set 
flat and spaced not more than 16-inch 
centers. Stud-bearing partitions shall 
rest on walls or girders, or be placed 
directly over other bearing partitions; 
or the floor joists of the floor below 
shall be sufficiently strengthened to 
support the concentrated load. If 
plates and sills are used for parti¬ 
tions they are to be not less than 2x4 
inches. 

Section 259. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, the floor and roof joists 
shall have a bearing of at least 4 
inches at each end, or its equivalent, 
and shall not be less than 2 inches 
thick and of sufficient size to carry 
the load safely. Joists carrying the 
partitions shall be doubled or other¬ 
wise sufficiently strengthened. Joists 
having a span of 8 feet no inches or 
more shall be bridged. Rows of 
bridging shall be not more than 8 
feet no inches apart. The cross 
bridging shall be 1x3 inches unless 
the live load is over 75 pounds to the 
square foot, when the bridging shall 
be 2x3 inches. 

Section 260. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, solid bridging not less than 
two inches thick and the full width 
of the studding shall be cut in be¬ 
tween the studding at each floor and 
not more than 6 feeet no inches in 
height apart, and shall be cut in be¬ 
tween the studding at all ceilings 
and just below where the studs are 
connected to the rafters or roof joists. 
When plates and sills are used, bridg¬ 
ing at floors and ceilings may be 
omitted. 

Floor and roof joists shall have a 
solid firestop of masonry over all 
bearing walls and partitions; or they 
shall have solid bridging not less 
than 2 inches thick by the full width 
of the joist and cut in between the 
joists with close-fitting joints. Sheet 
metal, mortar, mineral wool or other 


incombustible material shall be placed 
around all pipes or flues where they 
pass through partitions, floors and 
ceilings insuch a manner as will com¬ 
pletely close the opening. On all 
plastered masonry walls where fur¬ 
ring is used the spaces between the 
furring shall have firestops at every 
floor and ceiling and midway between. 

Section 261. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, floors shall be of at least 
two thicknesses of flooring, laid at 
an angle with each other when prac¬ 
ticable. Roof joists shall be tightly 
boarded, with matched sheathing not 
more than 8 inches wide nor less than 
1 inch thick, covered with one layer 
of asbestos paper, on which shall be 
placed burned or asbestos tile, slate, 
or asbestos shingles, sheet metal, tar 
and gravel roofing, or other incom¬ 
bustible roofing approved by the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings after tests, 
as provided by this Code. Mansard 
cr other roofs on exterior or party 
line court walls having a slope of 
more than 60 degrees shall be con¬ 
structed of fireproof materials. Tar 
and gravel roofing shall not be used 
on a slope of more than 15 degrees. 

Section 262. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, no wooden girder, rafter, 
joist, plate sill or other member shall 
be. cut or bored for pipes or other pur¬ 
poses on the under side. Such mem¬ 
bers may be cut on the upper side 
and studs and posts may be cut near 
the ends, provided they are cut in 
such a manner as not seriously to im¬ 
pair their strength and provided they 
are sufficiently reinforced. 

Section 263. In ordinary Masonry 
Buildings, all partitions and ceilings 
shall be lathed and plastered with 
hard plaster at least y 2 inch thick, 
or covered with sheet metal; and all 
basement and cellar ceilings, hall ceil¬ 
ings, stair soffits, stairways, passages 
and the side of partitions forming 
public halls shall be plastered on ap¬ 
proved plaster board or metal lath; 
or, shall be covered with sheet metal 
lapped 2 inches or lock-jointed. Sheet 
metal shall be applied with long nails 
or otherwise, as approved by the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings. 

Such sheet metal shall be pressed, 
corrugated or stamped of not less 
than 30 gauge and applied directly 
against a good surface of sheeting. 
Such sheet metal shall not be used 
as a substitute for plastering in 
places of habitation, refuge or de¬ 
tention or in places of public as¬ 
sembly. 




SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, PORTLAND, LOS ANGELES, OAKLAND 


UHL BROS. 

INCORPORATED 


WALL PAPER, PAINTS 
MURPHY VARNISHES 
AND ENAMELS 


Telephone EL iot 1416 

5M. UNION STREET 
SEAT TEE, wash. 
_ 











34 


The Building Code 















The Building Code 


35 


HEIGHT OF ORDINARY 
MASONRY BUILDINGS 

Section 264. No side of an ordinary 
Masonry Building shall exceed an 
average of 60 feet no inches in height 
above the established grade along 
such side, nor be more than 70 feet 
no inches above such grades at any 
point, nor exceed an average of five 
stories high, nor exceed six stories 
in any part. The height shall be 
measured from the established grade 
to the highest ceiling. 

Towers, spires or other similar fea¬ 
tures may be built of ordinary ma¬ 
sonry if not more than 20 feet no 
inches square and constructed to meet 
the approval of the Superintendent 
of Buildings. 

Section 265. One-story ordinary 
Masonry Buildings not over 20 feet 
no inches high may be built in the 
Second Building District, but if built 
on any street, alley or line dividing 
the Second Building District from the 
First Building District or within 10 
feet no inches of such dividing line, 
they shall have fireproof openings and 
automatic sprinklers as required of 
mill buildings in general in the Sec¬ 
ond Building District. 

Ordinary masonry dwellings not 
over two stories and an attic in height 
may be built in the Second Building 
District, but if built on any street, 
alley or line dividing the Second 
Building District from the First 
Building District, or within 10 feet 
no inches of such dividing line, they 
shall have approved automatic sprink¬ 
lers and fireproof openings in boiler 
rooms as required of mill buildings. 

ORDINARY MASONRY BUILD¬ 
ING BLANKET CLAUSE 

Section 266. Ordinary Masonry 
Buildings shall comply with all pro¬ 
visions of the Code relating to build¬ 
ings in general or to ordinary Ma¬ 
sonry Buildings in particular. 

FRAME BUILDINGS 

Section 270. Frame buildings shall 
conform to the following require¬ 
ments: 

Frame buildings may have their 
frames and finish built of wood and 
the frame shall be of sufficient 
strength to carry Its loads. The 
frames may be of sills, posts, girts, 
plates and rafters, or ordinary ba- 
loon framing of studs and joists. 
Double plank construction may be 
used for the frame of two-story build¬ 
ings and single plank construction 
may be used for the frame of one- 
story buildings, when approved by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 271. In frame buildings, 
bearing walls and partitions shall be 
constructed of not less than 2x4-inch 
studs, and if carrying two floors and 
roof not less than 3x4-inch or 2x6- 
inch studs. Studs shall be placed 


with their greater dimension cross¬ 
wise of the partition and not more 
than 16 inches on center. Non-bear¬ 
ing partitions may be constructed of 
2x3-inch studding set flat and spaced 
as required for bearing partitions. 
Stud-bearing partitions shall rest on 
walls or girders, or be placed directly 
over other bearing partitions; or the 
floor joists of the floor below shall 
be sufficiently strengthened to sup¬ 
port the concentrated load. If plates 
and sills are used for partitions they 
are not to be less than 2x4 inches. 

Section 272. In frame buildings, 
floors and roof joists shall have a 
bearing of at least 4 inches or its 
equivalent at each end and shall not 
be less than 2 inches thick and of 
sufficient size to carry the load safely. 
Joists carrying partitions shall be 
doubled or otherwise sufficiently 
strengthened. Joists having a span 
of 10 feet no inches or more shall be 
bridged. Rows of bridging shall be 
not more than 10 feet no inches 
apart. Rows of bridging shall be 
1x3 inches unless the load is over 75 
pounds to the square foot, when the 
bridging shall be 2x3 inches. 

Section 273. In frame buildings, 
solid bridging not less than 2 inches 
thick and the full width of the stud¬ 
ding shall be cut in between the stud- 
dings at each floor, and midway be¬ 
tween the floor and the ceiling of 
each story. 

Floor and roof joists shall have a 
solid firestop of masonry over all 
bearing walls and partitions; or they 
shall have solid bridging not less than 
2 inches thick by the full width of 
the joists and cut in between the 
joists with tight joints. Sheet metal, 
mortar, mineral wool or other incom¬ 
bustible material shall be placed 
around all pipes or flues where they 
pass through partitions, floors and 
ceilings in such a manner as will 
completely close the opening, if any. 

Section 274. Buildings having the 
upper story or stories of wood con¬ 
struction, or having wood gables or 
hipped roofs of wood and the ground 
«tory constructed with masonry walls, 
shall be considered as frame build¬ 
ings. Buildings, any portion of the 
exterior wall of which is of wood con¬ 
struction veneered with stucco, sheet 
metal or masonry, shall be considered 
as a Frame Building. Masonry ve¬ 
neer shall not be less than 4 inches 
thick, and shall be anchored to the 
frame and firestopped to meet the 
approval of the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Every building having dormer or 
bay windows, balconies, cornices or 
mouldings constructed of wood not 
entirely covered with sheet metal 
with locked joints, or with slate or 
tile, or with metal lath and cement 
mortar, or having all or any portion 


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36 


The Building Code 



PRESTON MILL COMPANY 


MANUFACTURERS 

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 

FIR AND CEDAR LUMBER, LATH AND SHINGLES 

2717 BLAKELEY AVENUE N. E. 

GENERAL OFFICE MA in 3835 YARD OFFICE KEnwd 0071 


SEATTLE, WASH. 



CENTRAL LUMBER & SUPPLY CO. 


“We Deliver a Mansion or a Shack'’ 


Queen Anne and Nickerson Street 
SEATTLE GA rfld 5703 WASHINGTON 



COLBY & DICKINSON, Inc. 

LUMBER 


SEATTLE—BOTHEL—RENTON 
KENT—AUBURN— PUYALLUP 


Main Office 

426 HENRY BLDG., SEATTLE EL iot 4556 














The Building Code 


37 


of its roof or the openings thereof 
not covered with incombustible or 
fireproof material, shall be classed as 
a Frame Building, 

Section 275. No wooden girder, 
rafter, joist, plate, sill, or other hori¬ 
zontal or inclined member shall be 
cut or bored for pipes or other pur¬ 
poses on the under side. Such mem¬ 
bers may be cut on the upper side, 
and studs and posts may be cut near 
the ends, provided they are cut in 
such a manner as not seriously to 
impair their strength and provided 
they are sufficiently reinforced. 

Section 276. Every frame building 
used, in whole or in part, as a place 
of assembly, office building or place 
cf refuge, detention or habitation 
other than a residence, shall have all 
walls, partitions and ceilings lathed 
and plastered. If such building is 
two (2) stories or more in height, 
the sides of partitions adjoining pub¬ 
lic halls, corridors and stairways, and 
all stair soffits and hall ceilings shall 
be lathed with either metal lath or 
plaster board instead of wood lath. 

Frame residences more than one 
fl) story high shall have all habit¬ 
able rooms, bathrooms, halls and cor¬ 
ridors plastered. This shall be con¬ 
sidered to require plastering in all 
buildings commonly known as one and 
one-half (l 1 /^) story residences. 

In frame buildings, all interior 
vent shafts and interior courts less 
than ten (10) feet across in any di¬ 
lection must be protected on the in¬ 
side of the court or shaft by walls 
which are first tightly sheathed ana 
then covered with metal lath and 
plaster, or tightly sheathed and cov¬ 
ered with plaster board and sheet 


metal, either lock-jointed or lapped 
one and one-half (IV 2 ) inches. 

When buildings which are herein 
required to be plastered are con¬ 
structed on piles above the water or 
on floats and are consequently swayed 
by tides, waves or vessels to such an 
extent that plaster could not be main¬ 
tained on walls, partitions and ceil¬ 
ings, there shall be used in lieu there¬ 
of two (2) thicknesses of plaster 
board placed with broken joints or 
one (1 % thickness of one (1) inch 
lapped or tongued and grooved wood 
sheathing covered w r ith one (1) thick¬ 
ness of plaster board. 

Section 277. Every Frame Build¬ 
ing two stories or more in height, 
partly used as a stable, store, ware- 
huose, factory or work shop, and 
partly used as a place of public as¬ 
sembly, or a place of habitation, ref¬ 
uge or detention, shall have partitions 
of halls, passageways and stairways 
constructed as required for partitions 
in Mill Buildings, or of incombustible 
stud construction, unless otherwise 
in this Code provided, and the ceil¬ 
ings thereof shall be made fire resis¬ 
tive as approved by the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings. 

Section 278. All cellar and base¬ 
ment ceilings of Frame Buildings 
used as places of habitation, refuge 
or detention, or as places of public 
assembly, except in dwellings and 
buildings appurtenant thereto, shall 
be lathed and plastered or covered 
with metal, lock-jointed or lapped 2 
inches; provided, however, that in 
buildings where the floors forming 
such ceilings are constructed as re¬ 
quired of Mill Buildings such metal 
or lath and plaster may be omitted. 




DENISON INTERLOCKING 

TILE CORPORATION 

* 


INTERLOCKING TILE 
MOSCOW FIRE BRICK 



Albert Armstrong, Mgr. Phone 

401-2 White Bldg. EL iot 0213 


SEATTLE 










38 


The Building Code 


HEIGHT OF FRAME 
BUILDINGS 

Section 279. No side of a Frame 
Building shall exceed an average of 
40 feet no inches in height above the 
established grade along such side, 
nor be more than 50 feet no inches 
above such grade at any point, nor 
exceed an average of three stories, 
or exceed four stories in any part. 
The height shall be measured from 
the established grade to the highest 
ceiling of mansard or flat-roofed 
buildings and to the average height 
of pitch-roofed buildings. 

Towers, spires or other similar fea¬ 
tures may be built of frame construc¬ 
tion, if not more than 15 feet no 
inches square and if constructed to 
meet the approval of the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings. 


Section 280. One-story Frame 
Buildings not over 20 feet no inches 
high and frame dwellings not over 
two stories and an attic in height 
may be built in the Third Building 
District, but if built on any street, 
alley or line dividing the Second 
Building District from the Third 
Building District, or within 10 feet 
no inches of such building line, they 
shall be roofed and plastered as re¬ 
quired of Ordinary Masonry Build¬ 
ings. 

FRAME BUILDINGS BLANKET 
CLAUSE 

Section 281. Frame Buildings shall 
comply with all other provisions of 
the Code relating to buildings in gen¬ 
eral, or to Frame Buildings in par¬ 
ticular. 


PART 3 STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS 


Section 301. All structures shall j 
be designed to resist the dead and 
live load, wind and other applied 
forces, without exceeding the allow¬ 
able working stresses in building ma¬ 
terials, as prescribed by this Code. 

Section 302. The dead load of a 
structure is its own weight, includ¬ 
ing partitions and permanent fixtures 
and mechanisms. 

STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS 

Section 303. Live loads shall com¬ 
prise all loads other than dead load 
Floors and roofs shall be designed 
for the actual live load intended to 
be applied, subject to the provisions 
hereinfater set forth. 

Section 304. The minimum live 
load required on each square foot of 
area shall be as follows: 

25 pounds for: Roofs, marquees, 
and permanent awnings, horizontal 
area. 

40 pounds for: Places of habita¬ 
tion, except rooms containing over 
five hundred (500) square feet of 
floor area, and places of refuge. 

50 pounds for: Office buildings 

above the ground floor, places of de¬ 
tention, and class rooms with fixed 
seats. 

60 pounds for: Garages with floor 
area not to exceed five hundred fifty 
(550) square feet and not used for 
trucks, 

75 pounds for: Where seats are 
fixed in places of public assembly, ex¬ 
cept class rooms; stables and rooms 
containing over five hundred (500) 
square feet of floor area in places of 
habitation. 

100 pounds for: Where seats are 
not fixed in places of public assembly, 
stores and ground floors of hotels 
and office buildings. 

125 pounds for: Garages, except 
as elsewhere herein provided, ware¬ 
houses, factories and workshops, ex¬ 
cept in special and unusual cases to 
be approved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Garages for motor truck storage 
shall be designed for the actual wheel 
loads of the trucks to be stored, with 
a minimum uniform load of 125 
pounds per square foot. 

150 pounds for: Armories, drill 
looms and riding academies. 

Stairways shall be designed for not 
less than fifty (50) pounds per square 
foot, except for places of public as¬ 
sembly, which shall be designed for 


not less than seventy-five (75) pounds 
per square foot. 

All buildings hereafter erected and 
not herein specifically described shall 
be constructed amply strong for the 
purpose intended. 

Plans for all buildings shall show 
the location of heavy machinery, or 
other unusual loads, if any, and the 
live load per square foot the building 
is designed to carry under full work¬ 
ing conditions. 

Section 305. The specified live 
loads, other than roof loads, and the 
loads of heavy machinery, etc., may 
be reduced for garages and all other 
buildings, except warehouses, as fol¬ 
lows: Ten per cent. (10%) on beams, 
girders and columns carrying one 
hundred (100) square feet of contig¬ 
uous floor area; fifteen per cent. 
(15%) on beams, girders and columns 
carrying two hundred (200) square 
feet of contiguous floor area; twenty- 
five per cent (25%) on beams, gir¬ 
ders and columns carrying three hun¬ 
dred (300) square feet, or more, of 
contiguous floor area. For intermed¬ 
iate floor areas the reduction shall be 
interpolated. 

For concrete flat slab construction, 
reduction of live loads are permitted 
in columns, piers and foundations 
only. 

Columns, piers and foundations in 
garages and other buildings except 
warehouses need not be designed for 
a greater percentage of the live load, 
as above modified, than indicated be¬ 
low: 

Roof and top floor, one hundred per 
cent. (100%) of live load; second 
floor fi'om top, ninety-five per cent. 
(95%); third floor from top, ninety 
per cent (90%), and and for each suc¬ 
ceeding floor, five per cent. (5%) less 
until a reduction of fifty per cent 
(50%) of the modified live load is 
reached, which shall be the minimum 
reduction. 

Section 306. Factories, workshops, 
warehouses and Size A garages shall 
have signs showing the allowed live 
load. Such signs shall be of wrought, 
oast, or enamelled metal, with figures 
at least four (4) inches high. All 
such signs shall be located at least 
seven (7) feet above the floor, and 
shall be plainly visible at all times. 
There shall be at least one such sign 
to every seventy-five hundred (7500) 
square feet, or fraction thereof, of 
floor area. The location of all load 










The Building Code 


39 


PUGET TIMBER CO. 

REMOVED TO 
413-15 MARION BLDG. 

PILING, SPARS, DERRICK 
STICKS AND CEDAR POLES 


SEATTLE 


WASH. 


STROM & OLSEN 


HARDWOOD FLOORS 

LAID, SCRAPED AND FINISHED. 

OLD FLOORS REFINISHED. 

1618 Twelfth Avenue EA st 8565 


Construction News 
of Oregon 


If you are interested in proposed private and munici¬ 
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market to purchase building material or equipment sub¬ 
scribe to the 

DAILY RECORD ABSTRACT 

92 FIRST ST., POTLAND, ORE. 

Associated with the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce 




HARDWOOD FLOORING 

FOR SALE 

All Wood Floors Hand Surfaced and Finished 
Electric Machines for Surfacing 

Estimates Given 

Seattle Hardwood Floor Co., 

Phone EL iot 4258 
805 UNION STREET 















40 


The Building Code 


signs shall b© subject to the approval 
of the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Whenever the Superintendent of 
Buildings shall have reason to be¬ 
lieve any building heretofore or here¬ 
after constructed is being subjected 
to greater loads upon any floor than 
said floor is designed to carry, it 
shall be his duty to make an examin¬ 
ation of such building and compute 
the loads which each floor thereof is 
designed to carry safely. The owner 
of said building must then place load 
signs, as described elsewhere in this 
section, showing the approved safe 
load. 

It shall be unlawful for any person 
to place any greater load on any floor 
of any building than that specified in 
the load sign. It shall be unlawful 
for any person to remove, mutilate, 
destroy, or conceal any load signs 
erected in accordance with this sec¬ 
tion. 

Section 308. Eccentric loading of 
foundations, walls, piers, or columns 
must be considered in calculating 
pressure on soil and stress in struc¬ 
tural materials. 

Section 309. All buildings and parts 
thereof, unless otherwise expressly 
provided in this code, shall be design¬ 
ed to resist a horizontal wind press¬ 
ure of not less than twenty (20) 
pounds per square foot of projected 
surface. In no case shall the over¬ 
turning moment due to wind pressure 
exceed fifty per cent. (50%) of the 
moment of stability due to dead load 

Section 310. Walls retaining earth 
shall be designed by the equivalent 
fluid, pressure method. The assumed 
fluid weights shall be not less than 
the following: 

Twenty-five (25) pounds per cubic 
foot for walls retaining public prop¬ 
erty: for retaining walls of all build¬ 
ings except residences, and for all 
other walls retaining more than eight 
(8) feet height of earth which in case 
of failure would result in damage to 
buildings or adjacent property. 

Fifteen (15) pounds per cubic foot 
for walls eight (8) feet or less in 
height, retaining private property, or 
for walls over eight (8) feet high 
which in case of failure would result 
in no damage to buildings or adjacent 
property. 

In cases where the earth is very 
firm and able to hold its shape, and 
has good natural drainage, a permit 
for a face wall may be issued, pro¬ 
vided no damage would result to 
buildings or adjacent property in case 
of failure of the wall. 

The footings of all retaining walls 
shall be carried down to* solid bear¬ 
ing, but in no case shall the bottom 
cf the footing be less than twelve 
(12) inches below the surface of the 
earth at the front of the wall. 

All retaining walls shall be pro¬ 
tected against water pressure by a 
suitable drainage system. 

Section 311. All materials used in 
buildings shall be of good quality for 
the purpose for which they are in¬ 
tended to be used. Each material 
must he free from imperfections 
whereby its strength or durability 
may be impaired. For the purpose of 
this ordinance the standards of qual¬ 
ity, strength and durability herein de¬ 
fined shall be regarded as the mini¬ 
mum standards of their respective 
kinds of materials, except as othei- 
wise specified. 

Section 312. The strength of mate¬ 


rials and allowable unit stresses are 
based upon the standards of quality 
prescribed for the respective mate¬ 
rials, and upon the assumption that 
all structural details and workman¬ 
ship shall be inconformity with good 
-standard practice. 

Section 313. The Superintendent of 
Buildings may require structural ma¬ 
terials of whatever nature to be sub¬ 
jected to test to determine their char¬ 
acter and quality by methods pre¬ 
scribed by law, or in their absence by 
methods established by good engi¬ 
neering practice. 

No new variety of structural mate¬ 
rial shall be used in any structure 
until" it has been tested and found to 
satisfy the conditions and tests by 
ordinances required o j f materials used 
for like purposes. 

Section 314. Foundations shall not 
overload the soil upon which they 
rest. Loam or soil containing organ¬ 
ic matter shall not be used to support 
The foundations of buildings more 
than one story high. The kind of 
soil upon which any of the following 
unit loads is permitted must be of 
sufficient thickness and extent to dis¬ 
tribute that load over the requisite 
area of the underlying soil. 

Section 315. Where no tests of the 
sustaining power of the soil are 
made, different soils, excluding mud 
at the bottom of the footings, shall 
be deemed to sustain safely not more 
than the following loads to the su¬ 
perficial foot, namely: 

Soft clay or other soil, one ton. 

Ordinary clay and sand, together in 
layers, two tons. 

Clay or fine sand, firm and dry, 
two and one-half tons. 

Very firm, coarse sand, stiff gravel 
or hard clay or hardpan, three and 
one-half tons to five tons. 

Section 316. When in doubt as to 
the safe sustaining power of the 
earth upon whicn a building is to be 
erected, the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings may order auger or other ap¬ 
proved borings to be made, or direct 
to be tested the sustaining power of 
the soil and at the expense of the 
owner of the proposed building. 

Section 317. When borings or tests, 
as provided in the preceding section, 
are made, the Superintendent of 
Buildings shall be notified so that he 
may be present, either in person or 
by representation. 

Section 318. Piles shall be of suf¬ 
ficient number and so spaced as to 
equalize the loads and make a stable 
foundation for the proposed load. 

The heads of piles shall be pro¬ 
tected against splitting while being 
driven, and shall be imbedded in con¬ 
crete or covered with a grillage so 
proportioned that in transmitting the 
load from the structure to the piles, 
the stresses in the materials shall 
not exceed those prescribed by law. 

Section 319. Timber piles for the 
purpose of supporting a wall, pier or 
column shall be of good material, 
reasonably straight, at least six (6) 
inches in diameter at the small end, 
twelve (12) inches at the butt, shall 
be spaced not less than thirty (30) 
inches nor less than two diameters 
of the butt from center to center, and 
shall be driven to a reasonably good 
refusal. 

Section 320. The tops of all timber 
idles shall be cut off below the sur¬ 
face of permanent saturation. Con¬ 
crete capping shall extend below the 






The Building Code 


41 


tops of the piles for at least six (6) 
inches, and at least six (6) inches in 
width outside of the piles and shall 
oe at least eighteen (18) inches in 
total thickness. 

Section. 321. The safe load which 
shall not be exceeded on a timber 
pile shall be determined by the fol¬ 
lowing formula: 

2 WH 

F=-for steam hammer: 

P-4-0,1 

2 wh 

F=-for drop hammer. 

P-4-1 

In which formula 

P=penetration in inches, under last 
blow. 

H=fall in feet. 

W=weight of hammer in pounds. 

F=safe load in pounds. 

The maximum load on a timber 
pile should not exceed 50,000 pounds, 
nor 80 per cent, of the allowable com¬ 
pressive stress as a post computed 
upon the area of the middle section. 

A wood follower shall not be used 
in determining the safe load. 

Section 322. All concrete used for 
piles shall conform to the specifica¬ 
tions for reinforced concrete, and be 
not leaner than P, 1:2:4 mix. 

Section 323. Plain concrete piles 
shall be moulded in place by methods 
which are reasonably certain to se¬ 
cure good full sized piles. 

Section 324. Reinforced concrete 
piles properly designed to 1 resist the 
shock of handling and driving, if 
driven with a cushion to lessen the 
shock, or if put down by a water jet, 
may be moulded previous to driving. 

The allowable working load on con¬ 
crete piles shall in no case be more 
than as determined by tests, as here- 
inafter provided, nor be more than 
four hundred fifty (450) pounds per 
square inch on the concrete at the 
middle section, plus six thousand, 
seven hundred fifty (6,750) pounds 
per square inch for steel reinforce¬ 
ment. Steel reinforcement shall not 
exceed five per cent (5%) of the area 
of the pile at the middle section. 

Section 325. Wherever concrete 
piles or jetted timber piles are used, 
their bearing power shall be deter¬ 
mined by loading test piles. Tests 
shall be made upon at least two piles 
put down and situated under substan¬ 
tially working conditions, including 
the proximity of other piles. 

The allowable working load on a 
jetted timber pile, or on a concrete 
pile, shall in no case be more than 
two-thirds of the load which can be 
sustained for forty-eight (48) hours 
with a settlement of not exceeding 
one one-hundredth (1/100) inch per 
ton of load applied, nor shall the 
working load produce any observable 
settlement whatever in the succeed¬ 
ing forty-eight (48) hours. 

Section 326. In all cases where 
foundations are built in wet soil, it 
shall be unlawful to build the same 
unless Irenches in which the work is 
being executed are kept free from 
water by bailing, pumping or other¬ 
wise, until after the completion of 
work upon the foundation. In all 
cases where practicable, a connection 
with the city cewer shall be estab¬ 
lished before beginning the work of 
laying foundations. 

Section 327. Foundations for ma¬ 
sonry buildings more than one story 
high shall extend at least one foot, 
six inches (1 ft. 6 in.) below the sur¬ 


face of the ground upon which they 
are built, and in the case of all 
buildings one hundred feet 0 inches 
(100 ft. 0 in.) or more in height, 
foundations shall extend at least to 
the depth drained by sewers in the 
adjacent streets or alleys, unless such 
sewers are at a greater depth than 
ten feet 0 inches (10 ft. 0 in.) below 
the sidewalk gyade. In that case, 
such foundations need not extend to a 
greater depth than ten feet 0 inches 
(10 ft. 0 in.), provided sound, hard 
soil is found at that depth. 

Every building erected without cel¬ 
lar or basement shall have, in the ex¬ 
ternal walls below the first floor level, 
not less than four (4) ventilators 
equal in total area to one-tenth (1/10) 
of one per cent (1%) of the ground 
area of the building and so placed 
as to insure cross currents of air 
and no floor joist shall be less than 
eighteen (18) inches above the 
ground. 

Section 323, Excavations in any 
building for the foundations of ma¬ 
chinery or for a cistern, pit, tunnel, 
sewer, or other pipe line, running 
parallel with a foundation wall or 
the side of a. supporting pier, shall 
not be cut below the bottom of the 
footings of such wall or pier when 
such excavations extend within 1 ft. 
0 inches of the angle of repose or 
natural slope of the foundation soil 
underneath such footings, provided 
further that excavations for the foun¬ 
dations of machinery shall in no case 
be made within 1 foot 0 inches of any 
wall, pier or footing. 

No wall pier or foundation of any 
building shall be cut, pierced, muti¬ 
lated or undermined in any way that 
will endanger or seriously weaken the 
structure. 

Section 329. Any person excavat¬ 
ing for the purpose of laying the 
foundation of any building, or for 
any other purpose whatever, shall 
protect and support all adjoining 
land, buildings, streets, alleys and 
sidewalks from damage, by under¬ 
pinning. cribbing or shoring, or such 
other device as will prevent all set¬ 
tling, cracking or damage whatso¬ 
ever 

Section 330. Every buildinsr here¬ 
after erected which is located adja¬ 
cent to any street or alley containing 
any then existing watermain, water 
tunnel, sewer, conduit tunnel, subway 
or other underground construction, 
owned or controlled by the City, shall 
be so constructed that the foundation 
or superstructure thereof shall not 
be directly supported by any such un¬ 
derground construction. 

Section 331. Foundations, unless 
otherwise expressly provided, shall 
be constructed of concrete, dimension 
stone or rubble stone, sewer or pav¬ 
ing brick, iron or steel imbedded in 
concrete, or piles, or a combination 
cf any of the same. All masonry 
foundations and all other masonry in 
contact with earth shall be laid in 
cement mortar. 

Section 332. Footings of stone 
shall have the upper and lower sur¬ 
faces of each approximately parallel 
and the stone shall be close fitted and 
bedded solid. Footings of brick shall 
be of hard burned brick, and shall 
not be reduced more than two and 
one-half (2%) inches to each two 
courses. 

Footings of stone or unreinforccd 
concrete shall not be reduced more 







The Building Code 


42 


than ten (10) inches to the foot in 
height, and all foundations so con¬ 
structed shall rest upon solid ground 
or piling. 

Section 333. Masonry foundation 
walls or piers shall be provided for 
frame dwellings more than thirty feet 
no inches (CO ft. 0 in.), or more than 
two stories high; for all other frame 
buildings more than* twenty feet no 
inches (20 ft. 0 in.), or more than 
one story high, and for one story 
frame buildings used as places of as¬ 
sembly, refuge or detention: provided, 
however, that masonry foundation 
walls or piers shall be used in all 
cases where the occupancy, location 
or construction of the building would 
render the structure unsafe wihtout 
them. 

All masonry foundation walls or 
piers shall be kept at least four (4) 
inches above the surrounding ground. 
Masonry foundation walls for frame 
buildings not more than thirty feet, 
no inches (30 ft. 0 in.), nor more than 
two stories high shall be, if of brick 
or stone, not less than eight (8) 
inches thick, and if of unreinforced 
concrete, not less than six (6) inches 
thick. 

Masonry foundation walls for frame 
buildings more than thirty feet, no 
inches (30 ft. 0 in.) or two stories 
high shall be, if of brick or stone, 
not less than twelve (12) inches 
thick, and if of unreinforced concrete, 
not less than ten (10) inches thick. 

Frame buildings veneered with ma¬ 
sonry shall have masonry foundation 
walls upon which the veneer shall di¬ 
rectly rest. Buildings over tide or 
shore lands may rest on piles. 

Veneered buildings over tide or 
shore lands may rest on piles, and 
shall have a reinforced concrete sill 
course upon which the veneer shall 
rest. 

In all cases where there is an ad¬ 
dition to the thickness of the exist¬ 
ing walls, the foundations shall be 
so strengthened as to carry jointly 
both the new and old walls. 

Section 334. Every building or 
structure, or portion thereof, here¬ 
after erected, and having a floor con¬ 
structed therein, shall have the un¬ 
derside of its lowest floor joists at 
least eighteen (18) inches above the 
ground at all points, or, if not so con¬ 
structed, shall have the floor area 
thereof covered with concrete not 
less than three (3) inches thick, and 
shall have walls of concrete or of 
brick or stone laid in cement mortar 
extending around the entire area re¬ 
quired to have a concrete floor and ex¬ 
tending not less than eighteen (18) 
inches below the surface of the 
ground. If such walls shall be of 
brick, they shall be not less than 
eight (8) inches thick, and if of con¬ 
crete, not be less than six (6) inches 
thick. 

No permit shall be issued by the 
Superintendent of Buildings of the 
City of Seattle for the reconstruction, 
alteration or repair of the lowest floor 
or foundation of any building or 
structure in which it is proposed to 
conduct or carry on any business, 
trade or occupation tending to at¬ 
tract rats, or located within the block 
in which any such business, trade 
or occupation is carried on, unless 
provision shall be made to make the 
same conform to the provisions of 
this section. 


It is provided, however, that in 
buildings not used for storage or 
handling of food products, wood floors 
three (3) inches or more in thickness 
may be laid in clean sand fills, with¬ 
out air spaces, and solidly imbedded. 

Miscellaneous outbuildings, not con¬ 
taining grain or other things which 
rats feed upon, may have a removable 
floor of planks or boards, laid and 
kept loose directly on the ground. 

Section 335. All foundations shall 
be protected against the action of 
frost. 

Section 336. xne several classes of 
stone masonry construction shall con¬ 
form to the definitions as follows: 

Ordinary rubble shall be defined as 
masonry composed of unsquared 
stones laid without attempting any 
regularity of courses or bond. 

Coursed rubble shall be defined as 
masonry having approximately level 
joints, with stones roughly shaped 
so as to fit approximately, and joints . 
in wall or pier leveled off at inter¬ 
vals not exceeding every 3 feet 0 
inches in height and well bonded. 

First-class masonry shall be de¬ 
fined as masonry built of stones in 
rgeular courses, the bearing surfaces 
and ends of which are roughly tooled 
off, and the stones laid with alternate 
headers and stretchers so as to se¬ 
cure perfect bond. 

Section 337. The allowable com¬ 
pressive stress in pounds per square 
inch for the several classes of stone 
masonry shall not exceed the follow¬ 
ing: 

For Stone Masonry. Lbs. 

Coursed rubble with Portland 

cement mortar . 200 

Coursed rubble with lime mor¬ 
tar . 120 

Ordinary rubble with Portland 

cement mortar . 100 

Ordinary rubble with lime mor¬ 
tar . 60 

First class granite masonry 
with Portland cement mortar 800 
First class limestone masonry 
with Portland cement mortar 400 
Dimension sandstone in founda¬ 


tions . 140 

Dimension sandstone with beds 
dressed to uniform surface, 
having 1 inch joint laid in 

cement mortar . 200 

Dimension granite in founda¬ 
tions . 200 

Dimension granite, with beds 
dressed to uniform surface, 
having 1 inch joint laid in 

cement mortar . 400 

Tenino sandstone, dressed uni¬ 


form beds, laid in cement 
mortar, with ^-inch joints.. 235 

Chuckanut sandstone dressed, 
uniform beds, laid in cement 
mortar, with ^4-inch joints.. 350 

No granite or marble column shall 
carry a wall exceeding one story in 
height. 

Section 338. All brick shall be of 
a quality that will stand all ordinary 
or usual handling, hauling, dumping 
and delivery on the scaffold or work, 
without suffering more than 5 per 
cent, breakage. 

Soft bricks shall not be used in any 
part of a building where exposed to 
the weather, nor in external or in¬ 
ternal piers or bearing walls. 

Good hard burned brick, stone or 
concrete shall be used for all exterior 
walls and all interior and exterior 
piers below the surface of the ground. 




















The Building Code 


43 


and hard burned brick, stone, concrete 
or terra cotta for all exterior walls 
exposed to the weather except as 
hereinafter provided. 

Section 339. Lime shall be fresh 
burned quicklime which will thor¬ 
oughly slake in forty-eight (48) 
hours. 

Lime mortar shall be composed of 
one part lime putty or hydrated lime 
and - three parts sand. 

Lime and cement mortar shall be 
composed of one part Portland ce¬ 
ment and two parts lime putty or 
hydrated lime, with as much sand as 
is needed to form good mortar, but 
not over five parts sand. 

Portland cement mortar s^all be 
composed of one part Portland ce¬ 
ment and approximately three parts 
sand by volume, with an allowable 
one-tenth (1/10) part lime putty or 
hydrated lime, added to temper the 
mortar. No cement mortar shall be 
used or remixed after it has begun 
to set. 

Section 340. The allowable com¬ 
pressive stress in pounds per square 
inch for brick masonry shall not ex¬ 
ceed the following: 

Lbs. 


No. 1 paving brick with Port¬ 
land cement mortar . 350 

No. 2 pressed brick and sewer 
brick with Portland cement 
mortar . 250 


No. 3 hard common select brick 
with Portland cement mortar 200 
No. 4 hard common select brick 
with lime and cement mortar 175 
No. 5 common brick, all grades 
with Portland cement mortar 175 
No. 6 common brick, all grades, 
with lime and cement mortar 125 
No. 7 common brick, all grades, 

with good lime mortar. 100 

Section 341. Brick under Nosi. 1 
and 2 of the preceding section should 
not crush at less than 5,000 pounds 
pressure per square inch of gross 
area. 

Brick under Nos. 3 and 4 should 
not crush at less than 2,300 pounds 
pressure per square inch of gross 

area. 

Brick under Nos. 5, 6 and 7 should 
not crush at less than 1,800 pounds 
pressure per square inch of gross 
area. Sand lime brick of this crush¬ 
ing strength may be used where com¬ 
mon brick is permitted. 

Section 342. Isolated piers of brick 
masonry shall not be higher than six 
(6) times their smallest dimensions, 
unless the above unit stresses are re¬ 
duced according to the following for~ 
mula: 

P = C (1.25—H/20D) 

In which formula: 

P is the reduced allowed unit stress. 
C is the unit stress in the above 
table. 

H is the height of the pier in feet. 


D is the least dimension of the pier 
in feet. 

No pier shall exceed in height 
twelve (12) times the least dimension. 
Weight of pier shall be added to other 
loads in computing load coming on 
the pier. 

No structural brick pier shall be 
less than twelve (12) inches in least 
dimension. 

Section 343. The bond of all brick 
work shall be formed by laying one 
course of headers for every six 
courses of stretchers; provided, that 
in the case of pressed brick facing, 
two headers and a stretcher may be 
laid alternately in every sixth course 
or an equivalent number of full 
headers may be used in any other 
equivalent arrangement, and provided 
further, that pressed brick facing, 
when not counted as part of the bear¬ 
ing wall, shall be solid bonded or 
metal anchored at least two feet no 
inches (2 ft. 0 in.) horizontally, and 
every fifth course vertically. 

Section 344. All brick laid up in 
cement, or lime and cement mortar, 
shall be thoroughly drenched immedi¬ 
ately before being laid. Both hori¬ 
zontal and vertical joints shall be 
completely filled with mortar in all 
kinds of brick masonry. 

No brick shall be laid in freezing 
weather. 

Section 345. During the construc¬ 
tion of a building, no bearing or cur¬ 
tain wall shall be carried to a greater 
height than one scaffold above any 
other connected wall of the same 
building. 

Section 346. Ashlar facing of a 
masonry wall shall not be considered 
as part of a wall for the purpose of 
carrying weight, unless it has a min¬ 
imum bond as follows: Every second 
course must be a bond course, this 
bond course to extend into the back¬ 
ing a distance equal to the least 
thickness of ashlar. In addition to 
such bond, each stone in all courses 
shall be tied to backing by two sub¬ 
stantial galvanized iron anchors. No 
ashlar shall be less than four (4) 
inches thick. 

Section 347. Wall or pier facing 
other than stone ashlar shall not be 
regarded as parti of the wall or pier 
for the purpose of carrying weight 
unless said facing is four (4) inches 
or more in thickness and solidly 
bonded with the backing of at least 
one continuous course in every twen¬ 
ty (20) inches of the height. 

Section 349. Exterior brick walls 
faced with stone shall have the back¬ 
ing of hard brick work laid in ce¬ 
ment mortar; but in no case shall 
the thickness of the stone and back¬ 
ing together be less than the thick¬ 
ness required for a brick wall of the 
same height. 

Section 350. The backing of any 


GALBRAITH LIME PUTTY 

IN ANY QUANTITY 

THOROUGHLY AGED 

Better and Cheaper Than It Can Be Made on the Job 


MA in 7000 




Foot of Madison Street 











44 


The Buie 


iron front that is not wholly self- 
sustaining shall be treated as an 
independent wall. If the iron is self- 
sustaining then the party and divi¬ 
sion walls shall extend to meet the 
outer plate of the iron and all va¬ 
cancies shall be filled with grout to 
insure complete separation of ad¬ 
joining rooms. 

Section 351. The thickness of a 
brick wall for the purpose of this 
ordinance shall be determined with 
due regard to the following consid¬ 
erations : 

The horizontal length between in¬ 
tersecting walls or other adequate 
permanent vertical lines of lateral 
bracing. 

The character and distance apart of 
the floor or other horizontal lines of 
lateral bracing. 

The weakening effect of chases and 
openings. 

The liability to eccentric loading, 
shock or vibration. 

The weight of the wall and other 
loads or forces to be sustained by it, 
including wind and earth pressure. 

The strength of the masonry em¬ 
ployed and its allowable unit stress. 

Section 352. Brick partitions rest¬ 
ing on masonry foundations or ocher 
incombustible support may be per¬ 
mitted in private dwellings to be built 
of any thickness not less than four 
(4) inches, that meets the require¬ 
ments of strength and stability. 

Section 353. Brick filler walls shall 
be not less than eight (8) inches 
thick. Attic and pent house walls, 
division walls, elevator, stairway and 
temporary enclosure walls may be not 
less than eight (8) inches thick. No 
wall fronting upon any street or alley 
shall be less than eight (8) inches 
thick in any building. 

Section 354. Non-bearing brick 
walls not over thirty (30) feet long, 
if securely anchored or bonded at 
both ends to intersecting walls or 
other sufficient vertical lines of fire¬ 
proof lateral bracing, shall be not 
less than eight (8) inches thick in 
the upper two stories and thicker 
below as may be necessary to meet 
the requirements of strength and 
stability. 

Bearing walls shall not be less 
than twelve (12). inches thick except 
that in buildings not over one story 
or twelve (12) feet high, exclusive 
of parapet walls, and having cross 
end. walls not over twenty (20) feet 
apart, eight inch (8 in.) bearing 
walls will be permitted. In all one- 


,dlng Code 


story buildings having walls not over 
sixteen (16) feet high, exclusive of 
parapet walls, and pilastered as here¬ 
inafter provided for, allowable twelve 
inch (12 in.) walls, the eight-inch 
(8 in.) wall between pilasters may 
be considered a bearing wall for roof 
loads and parapet walls only. 

Section 355. Non-bearing brick 
walls in fireproof buildings shall be 
not less than the thickness given in 


Table. 

TABLE 1. 

8th . 8 

7th. 8 8 

6 th .12 8 8 

5th.12 12 8 8 

4th .12 12 12 8 8 

3rd ..16 12 12 12 8 8 

2nd.16 16 12 12 12 8 8 

1st .20 16 16 12 12 12 8 8 


Basement 20 16 16-16 16 12 12 8 
Stories ....8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 
Section 356. Bearing walls of brick 
in fireproof buildings shall not be 
less than the thickness given in 
Table 2. 


TABLE 2. 

8th .12 

7th .12 12 

6th .12 12 12 

5th .16 12 12 12 

4th .16 16 12 12 12 

3rd .16 16 16 12 12 12 

2nd.16 16 16 16 12 12 12 

1st .20 20 16 16 16 12 12 12 


Basement. 20 20 20 20 16 16 12 12 
Stories ...87654321 
Section 357. Non-bearing brick 
walls over thirty (30) feet long, in 
non-fireproof buildings, if securely 
anchored or bonded at both ends to 
intersecting walls or other sufficient 
vertical lines of fireproof lateral 
bracing, and to floors every six (6) 
feet, shall be in the several stories 
not less than the thicknes given in 
Table 3; provided, however, that no 
non-bearing brick wall in a building 
designed for more than one hundred 
fifty (150) pounds per square foot of 
floor shall be less than twelve (12) 
inches thick, except in the top story. 

TABLE 3. 


6th . 8 

5th .12 8 

4th .12 12 8 

3rd .12 12 12 8 

2nd.16 12 12 8 8 

1st .16 16 12 12 8 8 

Basement.20 16 16 12 12 8 

Stories . 6 5 4 3 2 1 


Section 358. Bearing walls of brick 
over thirty (30) feet long in non- 
fireproof buildings shall be not less 


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The Building Code 


45 


than the thickness given in Table 4, 
except as provided in Section 354. 

TABLE 4. 


6th.12 

5th .12 12 

4th .16 12 12 

3rd .16 12 12 12 

2nd.16 16 12 12 12 

1st .20 16 16 12 12 12 

Basement.20 20 16 16 12 12 

Stories . 6 5 4 3 2 1 


Section 35S. Brick walls, either 
bearing or non-bearing, for private 
dwellings not over three stories high, 
shall not be less than the thickness 
in Table 5. 

TABLE 5. 

3rd . 8 

2nd. 8 8 

1st .12 8 8 

Basement..12 12 8 

Stories . 3 2 1 

Section 360. Eight inch (8 in.) 
and twelve inch (12 in.) hollow walls 
of brick may be used in residences 
and in one story buildings when con¬ 
structed a.s follows: 

Eight inch (8 in.) walls may be 
built either with stretchers on edge 
with open spaces in the center and 
headers every third course, or with 
stretchers flat on the face and back¬ 
ing of stretchers on edge, with head¬ 
ers every third course. 

Twelve inch (12 in.) walls may be 
built either with three courses of 
stretchers on edge and two open 
spaces, or with a facing course of 
stretchers, having headers every 
sixth course and a backing of stretch¬ 
ers on edge in two courses, which 
makes two open spaces. 

In other respects, hollow walls 
must conform to the requirements 
of solid walls under like conditions. 

Section 361. Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 
of thickness shall apply both on the 
tions, give the minimum required 
thickness of brick walls in inches. 

Section 362. Walls that are weak¬ 
ened by chases or by openings or 
other structural defects shall be in¬ 
creased in thickness or otherwise 
made sufficiently strong and stable. 

When the openings in the wall ex¬ 
ceed thirty-three per cent. (33%) of 
the area of the wall, then the thick¬ 
ness of the wall shall be increased 
four (4) inches over the require¬ 
ments of Sections 354, 355, 356, 357, 
358 and 359. The required increase 
of thickness shall apply both on the 
basis of the entire wall area and on 
the basis of its subdivisions or 
panels. 

Section 363. Walls in which the 
openings are of such extent as to 
leave relatively narrow sections or 
piers shal lbe computed as piers in 
accordance with Section 342. 

Section 364. Recesses and openings 


may be made in walls, provided that 
thickness of the backs of such re¬ 
cesses be not less than four (4) 
inches. No continuous vertical re¬ 
cess of more than six (6) inches in 
depth shall be made in any twelve 
inch (12 in.) wall; and all such open¬ 
ings and recesses shall be filled with 
cement at each floor. Provided, how¬ 
ever, that hollow walls of brick are 
permitted in accordance with Section 
360. 

Section 365. Walls that are liable 
to shock or vibration, lateral pressure 
or other deleterious or unusual con¬ 
ditions shall be made thick enough 
and so constructed as to meet the 
requirements of strength and stabil¬ 
ity under the special conditions im¬ 
posed, subject to the approval of the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 366. Brick walls less than 
twelve inches (12 in.) thick if ex¬ 
posed to the weather must be laid 
up in cement or lime and cement 
mortar. Cornices, coping walls and 
walls subject to eccentric stresses 
must be laid up in cement mortar. 

Section 367. Brick walls more than 
50 feet high in non-fireproof bulid- 
ings shall be laid up in cement or 
lime and cement mortar. 

Section 368. When the required 
wall thickness is augmented by ma¬ 
sonry buttresses, as hereinafter de¬ 
fined, forming projections on either 
or both sides of a wall, then the said 
required thickness between buttresses 
may be reduced by one-half of the 
thickness added at the buttress, pro¬ 
vided that no part of such wall shall 
be less than eight (8) inches thick. 

The term buttress shall be under¬ 
stood to include all piers and pilas¬ 
ters. Buttresses shall be at least 
one tenth (1/10) as wide as the 
spacing between them, and their clear 
distance apart shall not exceed twen¬ 
ty-four (24) times the reduced thick¬ 
ness of the wall between them, except 
that where buttresses are continu¬ 
ously tied together horizontally .by 
fireproof construction at heights of 
not over twenty (20) times the re¬ 
duced wall thickness, and the wall 
is anchored every four (4) feet to 
the roof or floor construction, the 
clear distance between buttresses 
may be increased to thirty (30) times 
the reduced thickness of the wall 
between them. 

Where buttresses are used, they 
shall be so placed that the principal 
trusses or girders rest on them. 

Section 369. If the loads carried 
by trusses, beams and girders are 
supported by iron, steel or rein¬ 
forced concrete columns built into the 
walls, the walls between such col¬ 
umns shall be built as required be¬ 
tween buttresses, and shall be sub¬ 
stantially anchored to the columns 


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COMMON BRICK HOLLOW TILE FACE BRICK 

masIerITLe 

LAKE UNION BRICK AND FIRE PROOFING CO. 

Westlake North and Blaine 

GArfld 2110 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 

_____ > 






















46 


The Building Code 


by metal anchors in every five feet 
of the height. 

Section 370. The story height of 
buildings shall be the distance be¬ 
tween finished floor levels or between 
top floor an droof levels or struc¬ 
tural ceiling, if there be any, and 
shall not exceed twenty (20) times 
the thickness of any enclosing bear¬ 
ing walls. 

Section 371. All foundations shall 
be protected against the effect of 
frost, and cement mortar, which has 
been affected by frost, shall not be 
used in building construction. 

Section 372. The ratio of thickness 
of other masonry walls to brick walls 
shall be as follows: 

Uncoursed rubble .1.4 

Coursed rubble .1.2 

Stone ashlar backed by stone or 

concrete .1.0 

Unreinforced concrete 1-3-5. .. .1.0 
Provided, that basement story 
walls of 1-3-5 concrete are not re¬ 
quired to be thicker than the first- 
story walls supported by them. 

Section 373. Double walls with 
continuous hollow spaces shall be 
tied together with metal anchors 
placed not more than three (3) feet 
apart horizontally, and twenty (20) 
inches apart vertically. If used for 
bearing walls, the walls shall be 
reckened independently. 

Section 374. All exterior and divi¬ 
sion masonry walls, including those 
facing upon courts and light shafts, 
shall be extended above the roof as 
fire wall parapets at least three (3) 
feet, except as hereinafter provided. 

Buildings with roofs constructed 
as required for fire-proof buildings 
need not be provided with fire wall 


parapets. On street and alley lines, 
the fire wall parapets of buildings 
other than fireproof need not extend 
more than eighteen (18) inches above 
the roof, or may be omitted when the 
top of the roof boards and roof joists 
are protected from fire for a distance 
of at least five (5) feet from such 
street or alley lines by a coating of 
fireproof materials at least two (2) 
inches thick. 

Fire wall parapets may be reduced 
to twelve (12) inches height above 
the roof along the property side lines 
only: Provided, that they are built 
against an adjacent building or build¬ 
ings, the walls of which are of ma¬ 
sonry and which extend at least three 
feet, no inches (3 ft., 0 in.) above the 
said roof, and which have no open¬ 
ings, the lower edge of which is 
within three feet, no inches (3 ft. 0 
in.) of said roof. 

Parapet walls may be reduced to 
twelve (12) inches in height on one- 
story buildings in the third and 
fourth building districts. 

Fire wall parapets shall not be less 
than eight (8) inches thick if built of 
brick or of proportionate thickness if 
built of other masonry. 

All fire wall parapets shall be cap¬ 
ped with weatherproof coping of 
metal, dense tile set in cement mor¬ 
tar, or reinforced concrete at least 
two (2) inches in thickness with a 
troweled top. 

Section 375. All posts, columns, 
girders, floor joists and structural 
parts which would transmit, if rest¬ 
ing directly on masonry, a greater 
load thereto per square inch than 
is allowed by law, shall be carried 
on stone, concrete, cast or wrought 


Brick & Tile Delivery Co. 

DEALERS 


COMMON BRICK 

FACE BRICK 

FIRE BRICK 

FIRE CLAY 

PARTITION TILE 

DRAIN TILE 

OFFICE 208 HOGE BLDG. 

PHONE EL iot 0893 


> _ / 















The Building Code 


47 


iron or steel bearing plates of suffi¬ 
cient size and thickness to distribute 
the load, without exceeding the 
stresses prescribed by law. 

All posts and columns which rest 
on masonry must be brought to a 
true bearing at right angles with 
their axes and set plumb without 
wedging. 

Section 376. No masonry wall shall 
rest upon or be supported by any 
wooden support, unless a masonry 
arch is turned above such support 
of sufficient strength to carry the 
wall; provided, that in one-story ma¬ 
sonry buildings cornices and firewalls 
may be carried on wooden lintels 
covered on both faces and underside 
with galvanized iron, or furring and 
metal lath with cement plaster. 

Section 377. Exterior walls shall 
be securely anchored to all structural 
floors and roofs by approved metal 
anchors, at not to exceed six (6) 
feet centers. Floors and roof shall 
be so designed and constructed as to 
form continuous and sufficient an¬ 
chorage across from wall to wall. 
Wood framing to which walls are 
anchored must be either continuous 
from wall to wall or must be ef¬ 
fectively tied together by suitable 
metal ties. 

The ends of timbers or joists bear¬ 
ing on masonry must be self-releas¬ 
ing in the event that the interior 
supports are removed by fire or other¬ 
wise, and must have ample clearance 
or other means to prevent dry rot. 

When it is deemed necessary or 
desirable to corbel brick walls to 
afford bearing for joists or other 
framing, such corbels shall not ex¬ 
ceed one-fourth ( x /4) the wall thick¬ 
ness in total projection on either side 
of wall, nor one-half (%) inch pro¬ 
jection for each corbel course. 

In the case of party or division 
walls designed to support joists or 
other framing from both sides, the 
ends of such joists or other framing 
shall not approach nearer than two 
(2) inches from the center of such 
walls. In all cases the ends of joists 
or other framing resting on brick¬ 
work shall be protected by at least 
four (4) inches of brick or other 
masonry. 

Metal wall anchors shall be equal 
to the following; The anchor bar 
shall be of one and one-half (1%) 
inch by three-eighths (%) inch iron, 
with a three-fourths (%) inch by 
eight (8) inch pin at the wall end. 
The other end shall be turned down 


and dapped into the timber at least 
one-half (%) inch and fastened in 
place with three (3) spikes, one of 
which must be within one (1) inch 
of the turned down end of the anchor. 

Section 378. Hard burned hollow 
building tile walls may be used in 
lieu of brick and of the same thick¬ 
ness as brick, subject to the follow¬ 
ing limitations: 

Such til© shall not be used in the 
construction of bearing walls in build¬ 
ings where the live load is in excess 
of one hundred fifty (150) pounds per 
square foot, nor below the top thirty- 
three (33) feet or three (3) stories 
of any building other than a resi¬ 
dence or apartment house, nor below 
the top forty-four feet or four (4) 
stories of any residence or apartment 
house. In bearing walls of greater 
height than above, or where the live 
load is in excess of one hundred fifty 
(150) pounds per square foot, hard 
burned hollow building tile walls may 
be used if constructed four (4) inches 
thicker than elsewhere herein pro¬ 
vided for brick walls. 

Section 379. Terra cotta tile shall 
be made of clay, properly cured and 
hard burned to a good density with¬ 
out undue warping or checking. 

The absorption of tile shall not be 
greater than twelve per cent. (12%) 
by weight at the end of forty-eight 
(48) hours continuous immersion in 
water. 

Vertical webs must not be spaced 
more than four (4) inches apart cen¬ 
ter to center and must have a thick¬ 
ness of not less than twenty per 
cent. (20%) of their height. All 
building tile shall have their webs 
and shells so arranged that the whole 
volume of cellular space within the 
outer lines of the tile does not ex¬ 
ceed fifty-five per cent (55%) of the 
gross volume of the tile. 

Section 380. Cement mortar as 
specified for brick work shall be used 
in all exterior and bearing walls, as 
for brick wall work. 

Lime and cement mortar or better 
as for brick work shall be used for 
interior partitions. All tile in a wall 
shall be solid bedded in mortar and 
laid with a full masonry bond. 

Section 381. Tile walls must not 
be loaded to exceed a unit stress of 
ninety (90) pounds per square inch 
of net vertical webs and shell section 
combined, nor to exceed a unit stress 
of forty (40) pounds per square inch 
of the gross horizontal wall section. 

Joists and beams shall not be seat- 


SHIPFEN TILE SUPPLY 2022-24 Westlake Ave., Seattle 
Tile, Floors, Walls, Store Fronts, Fireplaces; Clayburn and L. A. Pressed I 
I Brick; Batchelder Tiles; Dampers; Fireplace Furnishings. ED iot 4771. | 

L-' 

CHAS. W. RODGERS TILE CO. 

CONTRACTORS and JOBBERS 

TILE, TERRAZZO, FOORS, WALLS, MANTELS 

Office and Showroom: 

209-210 Maritime Building 

Phone MA in 34 46 SEATTLE, WASH, 











48 


The Building Code 


ed directly or on hollow tile, but shall 
be supported on filled tile or on at 
least two courses of hard burned 
brick or equivalent concrete plate, 
or on a metal plate of sufficient 
thickness and size to distribute the 
load to the webs and shells in such 
a way as not to exceed the allowable 
unit stress. 

Section 382. Wall thicknesses, off¬ 
sets, pilasters, bonding of face brick 
and floor and beam anchorage re¬ 
quirements shall be the same as for 
brick walls. 

Corbeling of tile walls shall not be 
permitted except when continuous 
brick or concrete corbels are built in¬ 
to the wall the same as for brick 
walls: Provided, however, that for 
one-story private garages and one- 
story residences, walls of hollow clay 
building tile six (6) inches thick may 
be used as bearing walls. 

In residences and all one story 
construction, lintels may be con¬ 
structed of tile filled with concrete 
and reinforced with steel bars. Such 
lintels shall be computed as a rein¬ 
forced beam for the enclosed concrete. 

Hollow tile may be used for foun¬ 
dation walls of buildings not over two 
stories high when the excavation is 
not over six (6) feet deep. The foun¬ 
dation wall thickness shall not be less 
than four (4) inches thicker than the 
allowable thickness of the tile wall 
above. 

Interior partitions of tile shall be 
considered as fireproof construction 
and shall be not less than: 

3 inch thickness for a height of 
12 feet; 

4 inch thickness for a height of 
16 feet; 

6 inch thickness for a height of 
20 feet; 

8 inch thickness for a height of 
26 feet. 

Fireproof stair and elevator enclos¬ 
ures of tile shall be eight (8) inches 
thick if not plastered, and six (6) 
inches thick if plastered on both 
sides. 

Section 383. Hollow concrete 
blocks may be used for walls under 
the same conditions as for terra 
cotta tile. 

Hollow concrete blocks shall have 
a minimum web and shell thickness 
of two (2) inches and shall be of 
such proportions of cement and ag¬ 
gregate as to have an ultimate crush¬ 
ing strength of fifteen hundred (1500) 
pounds per square inch net area of 
vertical web and shells and unit 
stress of three hundred (300) pounds 
per square inch net vertical web and 
shell area shall be allowed. 

Absorption shall not exceed ten 
per cent. (10%) by weight in forty 
eight (48) hours’ immersion. 

Cement mortar, as specified for 
brick work, shall be used to lay up 
cement blocks. 

Hollow cement blocks may be used 
under the same conditions as brick 
as regards wall thickness, off-sets, 
pilasters, bonding of face brick and 
floor and beam anchorage. 

All blocks must be cured twenty- 
eight (28) days before using. 

Foundations of concrete blocks may 
be used under the same conditions 
as for terra cotta foundation walls. 


or spiral grain, shakes, dead, loose 
or decayed knots and other defects 
that will materially impair its 
strength and durability. 

Wood used for studs, joists, posts, 
beams or trusses may be of rough 
common stock, provided that if a 
truss be of such size that it requires 
iron rods and bolts, the principal 
members shall be of select common 
stock. 

No large knots shall be allowed 
within the lower or upper quarter of 
any floor joist or girder. 

Section 385. The maximum allow¬ 
able stresses in pounds per square 
inch on actual sections of timber 
shall be as follows: 


2 * 
3 r+- 
m 3 
3* CD 

§3 

CD 

^ w 

t—•J*. 

Q® 
Sj U1 

a’ 


3 

3 

S3 


oo 

3 O 

g S 

3 *3 
3 
CD 
CO 

2 

o’ 

3 


ties 

3 3 
3 
CD 
CO 

2 . 

o’ 

3 

> 

o 

3 

o 

CO 

CO 


CD Co 

O 3 


Q 

3 

3 


2i n" 
3 © 
crq 3 

3 


Douglas Fir...1600 1600 400 200 150 

Spruce.1000 800 300 130 100 

Western 

Hemlock ...1400 1400 350 180 130 

Allowable unit stresses are based 
on actual size of structural timber 
as used. 

Diagonal bearing across the grain 
shall be computed in accordance with 
the following formula: 

N=PSin2A-l-QCos2A 

In which: 

N=the allowable stress per square 
inch on a surface inclined at angle 
“A” to the grain. 

P=the allowable stress per square 
inch in end bearing. 

Q=the allowable stress per square 
inch in cross bearing. 


Section 386. The unit stress on 
timber posts shall comply with the 
formula: 

S=C(1—L/70D) and S L- 75 C 

In which formula: 

S=allowable stress in pounds per 
square inch of cross section. 

C=compressive strength of timber 
with the grain given in table. 

L=length in inches. 

D=least diameter in inches. 

The maximum unsupported length 
of a timber post shall not exceed 
twenty-four (24) diameters. 

Section 387. All buildings having 
wood posts and girders shall be so 
constructed as to form proper bear¬ 
ings for girders and the post next 
above, without exceeding any of the 
allowable stresses of this code. 

All girders built up of more than 
one piece shall be bolted together by 
five-eighth (%) inch bolts or larger, 
such bolts to have a spacing of not 
more than four (4) times the depth 
of the girders, and no space shall be 
left between the members unless such 
space is filled solid the full width 
of the opening, and not less than 
two (2) inches thick from the under 
side, to prevent fire burning between 
the members. 


Section 384. Timber used for 
building purposes shall be sound, 
well manufactured, free from cross 


Section 388. All floor joists sup¬ 
porting header or trimmer beams 
shall be increased in size sufficiently 











The Building Code 


49 


to carry the extra load transmitted 

to them. 

All header or trimmer beams more 
than four (4) feet in length in build¬ 
ings designed to carry a live load of 
more than fifty (50) pou*ds to the 
square foot, when not resting on a 
wall or post, shall be hung in steel 
or iron hangers, capable of carrying 
the figured load with a factor of 
safety of four (4), as determined by 
test to destruction. 

All tail beams more than eight 
(8) feet in length or required to 
carry a load of sixteen hundred (1600) 
pounds, or more, shall be hung as 
required for headers or trimmers. 

Section 389. All single span lami¬ 
nated floors shall be free from joints. 

Laminated floors which are built 
continuous over one or more sup¬ 
ports may be used when computed 
with a bending moment of WL/S 
where W is the total load and L 
the length of the span, subject to 
the following requirements: 

At least fifty per cent. (50%) of 
the timbers must pass over the sup 
ports to one or the other of the quar¬ 
ter points of the adjacent spans. No 
splices are permitted in the middle 
third of the span, and not more than 
two (2) splices at the same point in 
any one foot width of floor. 

Every stick of such floor shall be 


nailed at least every eighteen (18) 
inches and twice at each end, with 
nails of such a length that they will 
pass completely through two sticks 
and half way into the third. 

Section 390. Trusses made of tim¬ 
bers not over two (2) inches in least 
dimensions may be used, provided 
all members, joints and bracing 
thereof are in accordance with the 
principles of statics. In such trusses, 
nails in sheer may be considered to 
resist a force equal to seven times 
the trade pennyweight, and at least 
one safety bolt not less than one- 
half (y 2 ) inch round shall be added 
at each joint, but such safety bolts 
shall not be relied upon to carry any 
stress, and no nails shall be used in 
tension. 

Trusses made up of combinations 
of iron or steel and wooden members 
may be used, provided all members, 
joints, details and bracing thereof 
are in accordance wiht the principles 
of statics. No truss joint shall place 
dependence on the combined action 
of two systems of stress transfer, 
where one system may be made use¬ 
less by timber shrinkage. 

All plans for truss construction 
when submitted to the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings for approval shall 
be accompanied by strain sheets. 


PART 4 STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS 


Section 401. All cement used un¬ 
der the provisions of Part IV of this 
ordinance shall be Portland cement. 

Cement shall conform to the speci¬ 
fications for physical and chemical 
properties ot Portland cement as pub¬ 
lished by the American Society for 
Testing Materials, serial designation 
C9-21, which said specifications were 
filed in the office of the City Comp¬ 
troller and ex-officio City Clerk on 
the 19th day of December, 1921, and 
are now on file therein as File No. 
83315 and by such reference are here¬ 
by made a part hereof, to the same 
extent as if herein fully set forth. 

When necessary to determine the 
physical or chemical properties of ce¬ 
ment, the same shall be tested and 
all tests shall be in accordance with 
the herein mentioned specifications. 

All cement tests herein prescribed 
shall be made by a competent expert 
employed by the person having 
charge of the work, and said expert 
shall file with the Superintendent of 
Buildings a certificate of the results 
of tests made by him. 

All cement shall be delivered on 
the work in the original unbroken 
packages, stamped with the brand 
and maker’s name and the place of 
manufacture, and no cement shall be 
used from a package which shows 


evidence of having set All cement 
after having been tested and approv¬ 
ed shall be stored in a weatherproof 
shelter and shall not come in con¬ 
tact with the ground or any moist 
surface. 

Section 402. Fine aggregate shall 
consist of sand or stone screenings or 
combination of the same having hard, 
durable grains. It shall be free from 
injurious quantities of dust or soft 
particles, clay or organic material. 

Fine aggregate used in combination 
with coarse aggregate which is not 
larger than will pass a one and one- 
half (1 y 2 ) inch screen, shall be graded 
as follows: 

One hundred per cent. (100%) 
shall pass a No. 4 screen; not less 
than forty per cent. (40%) nor 
more than sixty per cent. (60%) 
shall pass a No. 30 screen. 

Fine aggregate used in combination 
with coarse aggregate having a maxi¬ 
mum size of two and one-half (2 y 2 ) 
inches shall be graded as follows: 
One hundred per cent. (100%) 
shall pass a one-fourth (M) inch 
screen; not less than twenty per 
cent. (20%) nor more than thirty- 
five per cent. (35%) shall pass a 
No. 30 screen. 

Section 403. Coarse aggregate shall 


CEMENT 

Car, Truck Load or Sack 

LOWEST PRICE, BEST SERVICE 

Phone MA in 7000 for ACTION 

v_____ 












50 


The Building Code 


SEATTLE 


PORTLAND 


ASSOCIATE 

PITTSBURGH TESTING LABORATORY 


NORTHWEST TESTING LABORATORIES 

NORTHWEST TESTING BUILDING 

2113 Third Ave.—Phone MA in 0680 
ESTABLISHED 1890 


Tests and Inspections—Steel—Cement—Concrete 
Chemistry—Metallurgy—Metallography 
Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Engineers 
Assaying—Analyses 
Consultations 

PIONEER LABORATORIES 

OF 

THE NORTHWEST 


TACOMA 


VANCOUVER, B. C. 


ESTABLISHED 1886 

Building Iron Work, Structural Steel, Joist Hangers, 
Joist Anchors, Sewer Manhole Steps, Shackle 
Rods, Base Plates, Post Caps, Upset 
Rods and Bolts 



Bacon & Matheson Forge Co. 

17 West Lander Street MA in 0393 







The Building Code 


51 


consist of gravel or crushed stone 
vffiich is retained on a screen having 
M inch diameter holes. It shall be 
graded in size from small to large 
particles. It shall be clean, hard, 
durable and free from injurious quan¬ 
tities of deleterious matter. It shall 
be small enough to produce in com¬ 
bination with the mortar a homo¬ 
geneous concrete of sluggish consist¬ 
ency which shall pass readily be¬ 
tween the reinforcement and com¬ 
pletely fill all parts of the form. 

Cinder concrete shall not be used 
for reinforced, concrete structures. 

Section 404. Water used in mixing 
concrete shall be free from oil, acid, 
alkali, or organic matter. 

Section 405. Reinforcing steel shall 
conform to the requirements of the 
specifications for concrete reinforcing 
bars as published by the American 
Society for Testing Materials, serial 
designation A15-14, which said speci¬ 
fications were filed in the office of 
the City Comptroller and ex-officio 
City Clerk on the 19th day of Decem¬ 
ber, 1921, and are now on file therein 
as Pile No. 83316, and by such refer¬ 
ence are hereby made a part hereof 
to the same extent as if herein fully 
set forth. 

When required by the Superintend¬ 
ent of Buildings, steel shall be tested 
and all tests shall be in accordance 
with the herein mentioned specifica¬ 
tions. 

All reinforcing steel shall be free 
from flaking rust, loose scale, or a 
coating of any kind which will re¬ 
duce bond. Steel materially reduced 
in section by corrosion shall not be 
used. 

Section 406. Forms shall be sub¬ 
stantial and unyielding, tight enough 
to prevent leakage of mortar, clean, 
and cleared of all debris, and thor¬ 
oughly wet before receiving concrete. 
Forms shall be so constructed as to 
permit easy inspection, and shall not 
be filled with concrete prior to in¬ 
spection and approval by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings, unless ex¬ 
pressly authorized by him. The Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings shall be no¬ 
tified at least thirty-six (36) hours 
in advance of the time when an in¬ 
spection isi needed. 

Section 407. The fabrication, shape, 
size and disposition of reinforcement 
shall conform to the approved plans. 
Effective means shall be employed to 
secure the steel against displace¬ 
ment. 

Section 408. Construction joints 


not indicated on plans shall be so lo¬ 
cated and formed as to least impair 
the strength of the structure. 

Horizontal joints shall be formed 
by embedding stones projecting above 
the surface, cr by mortises or keys 
formed in the concrete, or by rough¬ 
ening the concrete surface, in all 
cases providing ample vertical steel 
to hold the jointed portions in inti¬ 
mate contact. 

The joint in the columns shall be 
rnade at the underside! of the deepest 
girder or in flat slabs at the bottom 
of the flare. For the section above, 
it shall be at the floor line; provided, 
however, that in the case of beams 
projecting above the main part of a 
floor, a second joint may be made at 
the top of the beam. The joint in 
girders shall be at a point midway 
between the supports; provided, how¬ 
ever, that in case a beam intersects 
the girder at the mid point, the joint 
may be offset. The joint in beams, 
slabs and .joints shall be at the points 
of minimum shear, usualy the middle 
of the span. 

Joints shall be perpendicular to the 
axis of the stress, provided, ho'wever, 
that shear at right angles to the 
axis shall be provided for by ade¬ 
quate inclination of the joint. 

Before placing concrete on the top 
of a freshly poured column or wall, 
a period of not less than two (2) 
hours shall be allowed for settlement. 

Section 409. The measurement of 
fine and coarse aggregate shall be by 
loose volume. One sack of cement 
weighing ninety-four (94) pounds 
shall be considered equal to one cubic 
foot. Methods of measurement shall 
be such as will secure at all times 
separate and uniform measurements 
of water, cement, fine aggregate and 
coarse aggregate. 

The ingredients shall be thorough¬ 
ly mixed to the desired consistency 
and the mixing shall continue until 
the mass is homogeneous in appear¬ 
ance and color, and the cement uni¬ 
formly distributed. 

Section 410. Machine mixing shall 
be done in a batch mixer; the mixing 
point shall have positive means of 
measuring accurately each batch of 
water, cement and aggregates. 

Each batch shall be rotated at least 
one and one-half (1%) minutes after 
all the ingredients are in the mixer. 
Machine mixers shall have a peri¬ 
pheral speed of approximately two 
hundred (200) feet per minute. 

Section 411. Hand mixing shall be 


r --'N 

North Bunkers, Westlake and Valley 

South Bunkers, Foot Dearborn Street 

University Bunkers, Foot 7th Avenue N. E. 

South Bunkers, Spokane Ave. and E. Waterway 

PIONEER SAND & GRAVEL CO., Inc. 

WASHED AND SCREENED SAND 
GRAVEL in Any QUANTITY or SIZE 

Phone MA in 5508 

OFFICE 808 LEARY BUILDING! SEATTLE, WASH. 

_____ / 






62 


The Building Code 


done on a watertight platform. Con¬ 
crete mixed by hand snail be turned 
over not less than six (6) times, and 
until the mass is uniform in appear¬ 
ance and color. 

Section 412. Materials shall be 
mixed wet enough to produce a con¬ 
crete of such consistency that it will 
flow sluggishly into the forms, and 
about the reinforcement; it shall not 
be so wet as to produce a separation 
of the ingredients during wheeling 
or handling. 

Section 413. The remixing of mor¬ 
tars or concrete which have partly 
set is prohibited. 

Section 414. Concrete shall be de¬ 
posited in layers in such a manner as 
to permit thorough compacting, and 
all concrete shall be thoroughly com¬ 
pacted by the use of adequate vibra¬ 
tors, tampers, slice bars or rods, b> 
spading, or by hammering the forms 
as each particular case may require. 

When work is resumed at a con¬ 
struction joint, concrete previously 
placed shall be cleaned, roughened 
and coated with rich cement grout 
at the abutting surface. 

Concrete conveyed by spouts shall 
be placed in such a manner as ic 
form a practically continuous stream 
in the spout. 

Section 415. In placing concrete 
under water, the means adopted shall 
effectually prevent the cement from 
washing away and the formation of 
laitance. 

The surfaces of concrete exposed 
to premature drying shall be kept 
w r et continuously for a period of at 
least seven days. 

Section 417. Concrete shall not be 
mixed and placed at freezing tem¬ 
perature unless special precautions 
are taken to prevent the use of ma¬ 
terials containing frost. 

Section 418. Forms shall not be 
disturbed until the concrete has ade¬ 
quately hardened, nor shall the per¬ 
manent shores be removed until the 
structure has attained its designed 
strength and excess construction 
loads have been removed. Wall and 
column forms shall be left in place 
until the concrete has hardened suf¬ 
ficiently to sustain its own weight 
and the construction loads likely to 
come upon it. Forms other than wall 
or column forms shall be left in place 
until the concrete has hardened suf¬ 
ficiently to carry the full load which 
it must sustain, unless removed in 


S'. A. PHILLIPS 
Manager 


sections and each section of the 
structure is immediately reshored. 

Section 419. Exposed reinforcing 
bars intended for bonding with fu¬ 
ture extensions shall be protected 
from corrosion. 

Section 420. Reinforcing steel shall 
be completely imbedded in concrete 
and shall be nowhere nearer the sur¬ 
face than as follows: 

Foundations, 4 inches. 

Retaining walls, earth face, Z 

inches. 

Columns, girders, beams, l 1 ^ 

• inches. 

Joists and bearing walls, 1 

inch. 

Slabs, Vz inch. 

Section 421. The drawings for the 
reinforced concrete portion of any 
structure shall be complete working 
drawings; when presented to the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings for approv¬ 
al they shall be accompanied by the 
required specifications, computations 
and stress sheets. 

The specifications shall state the 
mix, water cement ratio, and grading 
of aggregate to be used, and tlie 
strength which the concrete shall at¬ 
tain after a definite period. 

All openings, loadings and special 
considerations affecting the strength 
of the structural design shall be 
shown on the drawings. 

DEFINITIONS 

Section 422. The following w r ords 
and expressions w'herever occurring 
in this ordinance are used in the 
sense specified in this section, to-wit: 

Approved: Meeting the approval 

of the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Column Capital: An enlargement 
of the upper end of a reinforced con 
crete column built monolithic with 
the column and flat slab to increase 
the moment of inertia of the column 
and the shearing resistance of the 
slab at sections where high bending 
moment or high shear may occur. 

Column Strip: A portion of a panel 
of a flat slab which has a uniform 
width equal by one-fourth of the 
panel length on a line perpendicuar 
to the direction of the strip, and 
whose outer edge lies on the edge of 
the panel. 

Dropped Panel: The structural 

portion of a fiat slab which is thick¬ 
ened throughout an area surrounding 
the column capital. 

Effective Area of Concrete: The 
area of a section of the concrete 
which lies between the tension rein- 


--— 

Phones: CA pitl 1557; CA pitl 1557 
Night Phone: GA rfld 3796 


I Phillips Sand and Gravel Company, Inc. ; 

SAND, GRAVEL and CEMENT. 

OFFICE AND BUNKERS 

ON LAKE UNION 911 FAIRVIEW AVE. NORTH 

Opposite Ford Plant SEATTLE, WASH. 

--- ~ _ ) 
















The Building Code 


forcement and the compression sur¬ 
face of the beam or slab. 

Effective Area of Reinforcement: 
The area obtained by multiplying the 
right cross sectional area of the met¬ 
al reinforcement by the cosine of the 
angle between the direction of the 
reinforcement bars, and the direction 
for which the effectiveness of the re¬ 
inforcement is to be determined. 

Engineer: The engineer in respon¬ 
sible charge of design and construc¬ 
tion. 

Flat Slab: A flat concrete floor or 
roof plate having reinforcement bars 
extending in two or more directions 
and having no beams or girders to 
carry the load to the supporting col¬ 
umns. 

Laitance: The extremely fine par¬ 
ticles which separate from freshly 
deposited mortar or concrete and col¬ 
lect on the top surface. 

Middle Strip: The portion of a 
panel of a flat slab which extends in 
a direction parallel to a side of the 
panel, whose width is one-half the 
panel length on a line at right angles 
to the direction of the strip and 
whose center line lies on the center 
line of the panel. 

Negative Reinforcement: Rein¬ 

forcement so placed as to take nega¬ 
tive bending moment. 

Panel: An area of a slab bounded 
by the center lines of four rectangu¬ 
larly disposed columns. 

Panel Length: The distance be¬ 
tween centers of two columns of a 
panel in either rectangular direction. 

Positive Reinforcement: Reinforce¬ 
ment so placed as to take stress due 
tc positive bending moment. 

Principal Design Section: The ver¬ 
tical sections in a flat slab on which 
the moments in the rectangular direc¬ 
tions are critical. 

Slump: The shortening of a mass 
of wet concrete when released from 
a truncated cone-shaped vessel, 
twelve inches (12 in.) high, eight 
inches (8 in.) diameter at the large 
end, and four inches (4 in.) diameter 
at the small end. Used as a measure 
of workability. 

Water-Cement Ratio: The ratio of 
volume of water to volume of ce¬ 
ment in a given mix of concrete (one 
cubic foot of cement weighs ninety- 
four (94) pounds.) 

Section 423. The dead weight of 
all grades of concrete shall be taken 
as one hundred forty-four (144) 
pounds per cubic foot. 

Section 424, The design of rein¬ 
forced concrete members shall be 
based on the following assumptions: 

(a) Calculations shall be made 
with reference to working stresses 
and safe leads. 

(b) A plane section before bond¬ 
ing remains plane after bonding. 

(c) The modiolus of elasticity of 
concrete in compression is constant 
within the limits of working stress. 
The distribution of compressive 
stress in beams is therefore rectili¬ 
near. 

(d) The values of the modulus of 
elasticity of concrete in computations 
for the position of the neutral axis 
tor the resisting moment of beams 
and for compression of concrete in 
columns are as follows: 

(1) One fortieth (1/40) that of 

steel when the compressive 

strength of the concrete at twenty- 

eight (28) days is less than eight 


53 


hundred (800) pounds per square 
inch. 

(2) One-fifteebtli (1/15) that of 
steel when the compressive 
strength of the concrete at twenty— 
eight (28) days lies between eight- 
hundred (800) pounds and twenty- 
two hundred (2200) pounds per 
square inch. 

(3) One-twelfth (1/12) that of 
steel when the compressive 
strength of the concrete at twenty- 
eight (28) days lies between twen¬ 
ty-two hundred (2200) pounds and 
tw’eniy-nine hundred (2900) pounds- 
per square inch. 

(4) One-tenth (1/10) that of steer 
when the compressive strength of 
the concrete at twenty-eight (28> 
days is higher than twenty-nine 
hundred (2900) pounds per square 
inch. 

(5) One-eighth (1/8) that of steeF 
for calculating the deflection of re¬ 
inforced concrete beams which are 
free to move longitudinally at the 
supports, and in which the tensile 
resistance of the concrete is neg¬ 
lected. 

(e) In calculating the moment of 
resistance of reinforced concrete 
beams and slabs, the tensile resist¬ 
ance of the concrete is neglected. 

(f) The adhesion between the con¬ 
crete and the metal reinforcement re¬ 
mains unbroken throughout the range- 
of working stresses. Under compres¬ 
sion, the two materials are therefore 
stresses in proportion to their module 
of elasticity. 

(g) Initial stress in the reinforce¬ 
ment due to expansion or contraction 
of the concrete is neglected except in 
the design of reinforced concrete col¬ 
umns. 

Section 426, When necessary to^ 
verify the strength of concrete being 
used, test cylinders shall be made- 
upon notice from the Superintendent 
of Buildings. These cylinders shall 
be either six (6) inches diameter by 
twelve (12) inches high, or eight (8> 
inches diameter by sixteen (16) inches 
high, and shall be tested at the age 
of twenty-eight (28) days. 

Section 427. The ultrmate compres¬ 
sive strength of concrete at the age 
of twenty-eight (28) days shall, where 
poured under expert supervision, as 
hereinafter provided, be assumed asr 
follows (Proportions are by volume):: 


Cement 

Sand 

Gravel 

Ultimate 
Strength 
Pounds per- 
Square Inch 

1 

1 

2 

2900 

1 

iy 2 

3 

2400 

1 

2 

4 

200ft 

1 

2 y% 

5 

1750' 

1 

3 

5 

1600 

1 

3 

6 

1400 


If, however, test cylinders from any 
structure are found to have less 
strength than assumed above, the- 
builder shall make such changes ire 
materials, proportions or mixing a» 
may be necessary to secure the re¬ 
quired strength. 

The ultimate strength of concrete 
not under expert supervision shall be 
assumed as seventy-five per cent... 
(75%) of that given in the above 
table. 

Section 423. The symbols herein¬ 
after used are defined as follows: 

A—Total net area of column, foot— 





54 


The Building Code 


ing or pedestal, exclusive of fire¬ 
proofing. 

Ac—Net effective* area of concrete. 
A'c—Net concrete area of longi¬ 
tudinally reinforced column with 
lateral ties, equals gross area of 
column section minus an area one 
inch wide all around the section 
minus the area of the longitudinal 
reinforcing bars. 

As—Effective cross sectional area of 
St66l. 

b—Width of beam. 

b'—Width of stem of T-Beam. 

bi—Width or diameter of dropped 
panel in flat slabs, 
c—Diameter of effective column 
capital in flat slabs, 
d—Effective depth of a member in 
flexure. 

fc—Safe working stress of concrete, 
f'c—Ultimate compressive strength 
of concrete in pounds per square 
inch. 

f 8 —Safe working stress of steel, 
h—The unsupported length of a 
column. 

I—Moment of inertia, 
j—Ratio of the lever arm of a re¬ 
sisting couple to the effective 
depth d in a member in bending, 
k—Ratio of depth of the neutral 
axis to the effective depth d in a 
member in bending. 

1 or L—Distance center to center 
of supports. (Also see Section 
449, Flat Slabsl. 

M—Bending moment or moment of 
resistance, in general. 

Mo—The sum of the positive and 
negative bending moments in 
either rectangular direction at the 
principal design sections of a flat 
slab. 

n—Assumed ratio of the values of 
the moduli of elasticity of con¬ 
crete to steel. 

p—The ratio of the effective area 
of reinforcement to the effective 
area of concrete. 

P—Axial column load on a column 
whose length is less than fifteen 
(15) times its least dimension. 
P'—Safe axial load on a column 
whose length is more than fifteen 
(15) times its least dimension, 
r—Ratio of cross-sectional area of 
negative reinforcement which 
crosses entirely over the column 
capital of a flat slab, or over the 
dropped panel, to the total cross- 
sectional area of negative rein¬ 
forcement in the two (2) column 
strips. 

R—Ratio of positive or negative 
moment in two (2) column strips 
or one (1) middle strip of a flat 
slab, to Mo. 

R—Radius of gyration in general. 
RMo—A specific part of the sum¬ 
mation moment Mo in flat slabs, 
t—Slab thickness, 
ti—Dropped panel thickness in flat 
slabs. 

t 2 —Slab thickness in flat slabs, 
v—Unit Shearing stress, 
w—Uniformly distributed load per 
unit of length of beam or slab. 
W—Total live and dead load uni¬ 
formly distributed on a panel of 
a. flat slab. 

'Section 429. When all the regula¬ 
tions of this ordinance are observed 
in the design, supervision, inspection 
and construction of reinforced con¬ 
crete, the working stresses shall not 
exceed the following: 


REINFORCEMENT—Tension or com¬ 
pression in steel. 

Billet Steel Bars. 

(1) Structural grade.... 

.16000 pounds per sq. in. 

(2) Intermediate grade.. 

.18000 pounds per sq. in. 

(3) Hard grade . 

.20000 pounds per sq. in. 

Cold drawn steel wire. . . . 

.20000 pounds per sq. in. 

Provided that not over sixteen thou¬ 
sand (16,000) pounds per square inch 
shall be used in the design unless 
certified steel test reports are fur¬ 
nished of the reinforcement actually 
used. 

CONCRETE—Compression. 

(1) Extreme fibre stress pos¬ 
itive bending .0.375 f'c 

(2) Extreme fibre stress, neg¬ 
ative bending .0.410 f'c 

Provided the member 
frames into a mass of con¬ 
crete 50% wider and 25% 
deeper than the member. 

(3) Axial compression—piers 

only .0.25 f'c 

(4) Bearing, from.0.25 f'c 

where sections are of the 
same dimension propor¬ 
tionately, to.0.500 f'c 

where the area of the sec¬ 
ond member is at least 
twice that of the first mem¬ 
ber. 

(5) Bond 

Beams, slabs, one way 
footings 

Plain bars .0.40 f'c 

Ditto—Deformed bars...0.050 f'c 
Footings, two way rein¬ 
forcement, above values to * 
be reduced by 25%. 

Footings, each additional 
direction of reinforcement, 
above values to be reduced 
by 10%. 

The maximum unit values 
for bond on the richer 
mixes of concrete shall be 
eighty (80) pounds per 
square inch for plain bars 
and one hundred (100) 
pounds per square inch for 
deformed bars. 

For bars adequately an¬ 
chored at both ends, bond 
stresses 50% higher than 
those herein specified are 
allowed. 

(6) Shear and diagonal tension. 
Beams without web rein¬ 


forcement. 

Longitudinal bars not 

anchored.0.02 f'c 

Longitudinal bars an¬ 
chored .0.03 f'c 


Beams with web reinforce¬ 
ment. 

Tension reinforcement 
bent up with regard to 

shear .0.03 f'c 

Web fully reinforced... 0.06 f'c 
Web fully reinforcced and 
all reinforcements ade¬ 
quately anchored.0.12 f'c 

Beams having a higher 
shearing stress than 0.06 
f'c shall be subject to the 
approval of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings as to 
design and calculation. 

In calculation for shearing 
stress the maximum unit 
value which may be used 
for any mix of concrete 
shall not exceed f' c =2000 
pounds per square inch. 



















The Building Code 


55 



Open Hearth Steel 


REINFORCING 

BARS 

Round and Square Plain or Deformed 

Prompt Delivery From Large Stock — Reinforcing 
Estimates Furnished—Reinforcing 
Fabricated 

STRUCTURAL SHAPES 
ANGLES 
CHANNELS 
I-BEAMS 

MERCHANT BARS 

Pacific Coast 
Steel Co. 

Works Sales Office 

SEATTLE 915 ALASKA BLDG. 

SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE, WASH. 

PORTLAND pllo " e “ A in 0380 











56 


The Building Code 


(7) Punching- Shear. 

On footings, rectangular 

type . 0.10 f'c 

(Figured from the top of 
the footing to the center 
of gravity of the steel). 

When the depth of the sup¬ 
ported or supporting mem¬ 
ber is less than l/15th of 
the span in the case of 
beams and slabs, or less 
than l/3rd of the overhang 
in the case of cantilevers, 
the unit punching stress 
shall not exceed.0.06 f'c 

Section 430. The span length for 
beams and slabs simply supported 
shall be the distance center to center 
of supports, which need not exceed 
the clear span plus the length re¬ 
quired for bearing. 

The span length for continuous and 
restrained members built monolithic- 
^illy into the supports shall be the 
-clear span. Maximum negative mo¬ 
ments shall be considered as existing 
at the ends of the span, as herein 
defined. 

When brackets are used, only that 
portion of the bracket within forty- 
five (45) degrees of the vertical shall 
be considered as reducing the span 
of continuous members, and in such 
cases the total span shall not be less 
than the clear span between brackets, 
plus one-half the total depth of the 
beam. No portion of a bracket used 
for the purpose of reducing the span 
of a beam shall be considered as 
adding to the effective depth of a 
beam. 

Section 431. The following mo¬ 
ments at critical sections of freely 


supported beams and slabs of equal 
spans carrying uniformly distributed 
load shall be used: 

(a) Maximum positive moment in 
beams and slabs of one span. 

M=wl 2 /8 

(b) Center of slabs and beams, 
continuous for two spans only. 

(1) Positive moment at the cen¬ 
ter. 

M=wl 2 /10 

(2) Maximum negative moment, 
supports. 

M=wl 2 /8 

(c> Slabs and beams continuous 
for more than two spans. 

(1) Center and supports of in¬ 
terior spans. 

M=wl 2 /12 

(2) Interior support and center 
of end spans. 

M=wl 2 /10 

(d) Negative moment at the sup¬ 
ports of slab or beam built into 
brick or masonry walls in a man¬ 
ner that develops partial end re¬ 
straint. 

M not less than wl 2 /16 
The following moments at the crit¬ 
ical sections of beams or slabs of 
equal spans cast monolithic with col¬ 
umns or similar supports and carry¬ 
ing a uniformly distributed load shall 
be used. 

(a) Supports of intermediate spans. 

M=wl 2 /12 

(b) Center of intermediate spans. 

M=wl 2 /16 

(c) Beams in w'hich 1/1 is less 
than twice the sum of the values of 
I/h for the exterior columns above 
and below which are built into the 
beam. 




Examinations 

Reports 


Designs in 
Reinforced Concrete 
Steel 
Timber 


A. M. YOUNG 

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER 


633-6 Central Building 
SEATTLE 


Foundations 
Retaining Walls 
Structures 


MA in 
4566 


















The Building Code 


5 T 


(1> Center and first interior sup¬ 
port. 

M=wl 2 /12 

(2) Exterior supports. 

M=wl 2 /12 

(d) Beams in which 1/1 is equal 
to or greater than twice the sum 
of the values of I/h for the exte¬ 
rior columns above and below 
which are built into the beam. 

(1) Center and first interior sup¬ 
port of end span. 

M=wl 2 /10 

(2) Exterior support. 

M=wl 2 /16 

(e) Continuous beams with un¬ 
equal spans shall be analyzed and 
designed for the actual conditions 
obtaining, including unequal load 
distributions. 

Section 432. The main longitudinal 
slab steel shall not be spaced more 
than two and one-half (2^) times 
the slab thickness. For one wav 
slabs, transverse steel having an area 
of one-tenth (1/10) of one per cent 
(1%) shall be provided. 

In continuous slabs, one-fourth (14 ) 
the main positive steel shall extend 
to the supports in the bottom of the 
slab; provided, however, that in steel 
framed buildings with concrete floor 
slabs, steel maj* be used to fulfill 
moment requirements only. 

In rectangular slabs reinforced in 
two directions, the assumed distribu¬ 
tion of load shall be inversely as the 
cubes of the spans. In such slabs, 
the total amount of computed rein¬ 
forcement may be reduced by twenty- 
five per cent. (25%) by gradually in¬ 
creasing the spacing of the bars from 
the third point to the edge of the 
slab. 

When beams are monolithic with 
the floor slab, a portion of the slab 
may be assumed as acting in flexure 
in combination with the beam. The 
width of the slab so acting shall be 
governed by the shearing resistance 
between slab and stem, but its ef¬ 
fective width on either side of the 
stem shall not exceed one-sixth (1/6) 
of span of the beam, nor six (6; 
times the thickness of the slab on 
either side of the stem. 

Section 434. When the unit com¬ 
pressive stress would exceed the al- 
owafole, steel not to exceed two and 
one-hali’ per cent. (2 ^ %) of the area 
of the beam section may be added 
in the compression area to carry 
stress. Compressive reinforcement 
shall be straight and have a clear 
distance between the bars of at least 
two diameters. Protection against 
buckling shall be provided by ties or 
inverted U stirrups, spaced at not to 
exceed sixteen (161 times the diam¬ 
eter of the bar, and fully anchored. 

Section 435. There shall be a clear 
horizontal distance between beam 
bars of at least one inch (1 in.) and 
not less than one and one-half (1%) 
times the bar diameter. There shall 
be at least one inch (1 in) vertically 
between horizontal rows of bars. 

Section 436. The lengths of hori¬ 
zontal beam bars shall provide for all 
bending moment shear and bond re 
quirements. 

Section 437. Reinforced concrete 
floors built with tile or other fillers 
forming concrete joists, shall have a 
minimum slab thickness of two inch¬ 
es (2 in.). When figured as T sec¬ 
tions, the slab shall be monolithic 
with the stem. In such floors, the 


width of the T flange may be taken 
equal to the joist spacing. Porous 
fillers shall be thoroughly saturated- 
before concreting. Where good terra 
cotta tile is used and the joists in 
one row are placed opposite the cen¬ 
ter of the tiles in the adjacent rows, 
then the breadth of the effective 
shear section may be taken as the 
concrete joist thickness pus one-half 
the thickness of the exterior vertical 
webs of the tile. 

Section 438. Footings shall be cal¬ 
culated by dividing the bearing areas 
into rectangles or trapezoids tribu¬ 
tary to the sides of the supporting 
member, using the distance to the 
center of gravity of the area as the 
arm of the upward forces. The unit 
shearing stress, as governing diag¬ 
onal tension, when computed on the 
l'crty-five (45) degree critical pyra¬ 
mid shall not exceed that for beams 
similarly reinforced. 

Section 439. The length of rein¬ 
forced concrete columns shall not ex¬ 
ceed fifteen (15) times the least di¬ 
rection unless the supported load be 
computed by the following formula; 

P'=.P(1.33—h/120R) 
in which P' is the safe load for a 
column of unsupported length—h, P 
is the safe load for a column of the 
same section with an unsupported 
length less than fifteen (15) times 
the least dimension, and R is the 
least radius of gyration of the sec 
tion. 

Coumns supporting flat slab floors 
shall have a diameter of not less than 
one-thirteenth (1/13) the distance 
center to center of columns. 

Section 440. The safe axial load 
for columns reinforced wuth longi¬ 
tudinal bars and separate lateral 
ties shall be in accordance with the 
following formula; 

Pr-rA'c fc-{-As n fc 

in which A'c is the net area of the 
concrete of the columns and As is the 
effective cross sectional area of the 
longitudinal bars. In such columns, 
fc shall not exceed 0.225f'e, the lon¬ 
gitudinal reinforcement shall not be 
more than three and one-half per cent 
(3y 2 %) nor less than 0.5 per cent and 
the ties shall not be less than one- 
fourth inch ( x /4 in.) diameter spaced 
eight inch (8 in.) centers. The mini¬ 
mum renforcement of such! columns 
shall be four one-half inch (% in.) 
round bars. 

The outer one inch (1 in.) of thick¬ 
ness of such columns shall not be in¬ 
cluded in computing the colunrn 
strength. 

Section 441. The safe axial load 
on column reinforced with longitudi¬ 
nal bars and closely spaced spirals 
enclosing a circular core shall be de¬ 
termined by the following formula: 

P=Ac fe-4-n fc p A 
in which A is the area of the cor® 
enclosed within the spiral. 

P is the total safe axial load on a 
column whose unsupported height 
is less than fifteen (15) times its 
least dimension. 

p is the ratio of the effective area 
of the longitudinal reinforcement to 
the area of the core, and 
Ac=A (1—p)=net area of concrete 
core. 

The allowable value of fc in this- 
type of column shall be determined 
by the following formula; 

fc=300-|-(0.10 —j— 4 p)f' c 
Longitudinal reinforcement shall' 








58 


The Building Code 


consist of at least six (6) one-half 
inch (Y 2 in.) round bars, and its area 
shall be not less than one per cent 
(1%) nor more than five per cent 
(5%) of that of the enclosed core. 

Spiral reiniorcement shall not be 
less in amount than one-fourth (Vi) 
the volume of the longitudinal rein¬ 
forcement. It shall consist of evenly 
spaced spirals, held firmly in place 
by at least three spacers, which may 
be a part of the main longitudinal re¬ 
inforcement; the spacing of the spiral 
shall not be more than one-sixth 
(1/6) the core diameter nor more 
than three inches (3 in.), and such 
spirals shall be of cold drawn steel 
wire or hard grade round bars. No 
portion outside the spiral core of 
such columns snail be relied on to 
carry axial load. 

Section 442. On spiralled columns, 
the compressive unit stress on the 
concrete within the core area under 
combined axial load and bending shall 
not exceed by more than twenty per 
cent. (20%) of the value, given by 
the formula of Section 441 for the 
allowable unit compressive stress. 

On columns witn longitudinal rein¬ 
forcement only, additional bars not 
to exceed two per cent (2%) shall 
be used if required to provide for 
bending, and the unit compressive 
stress on the concrete under com¬ 
bined axial load and bending may be 
increased to 0.30 f'c. Tension in steel 
due to bending in columns shall not 
exceed sixteen thousand (16,000) 
pounds per square inch. 

Section 443. The unit stresses per 
square inch on composite columns 
shall not exceed the following: 

Steel columns filled with 
and encased in concrete at 
least three inches (3 in.) 
thick and wrapped with 
wire mesh weighing at 
least 0.2 pounds per square 

*°ot .18000—70L/R 

out not more than 16000 
pounds per square inch. 

All composite columns shall have 
l*rackets properly fabricated to carry 
the transmitted floor loads. Ample 
sections of concrete and provisions 
for continuity of reinforcement shall 
be provided at the junctions with 
beams and girders. 

Section 444. All column bars shall 
be spliced and stubbed into footings 
in such a manner as to transmit the 
stresses for which they are designed 
without exceeding the allowable 
stresses provided in the ordinance. 

Section 445. Reinforced concrete 
bearing walls shall have a thickness 
of at least one-twenty-fifth (1/25) of 
the unsupported height, provided, 
however, that approved buttresses, 
buit-in columns, or piers, may be used 
in lieu of greater thicknesses. 

The working compressive stress in 
such walls shall not exceed f'c/10 
when the wall is twenty-five (25) 
times the thickness in height, propor¬ 
tionally to f'c/8 when the wall is 
fifteen (15) times the thickness or 
less in height. Such walls shall be 
reinforced with at least one-sixth 
(1/6) of one per cent (1%) of steel 
in each direction, vertical and hori¬ 
zontal. Walls eight (8) inches or 
more in thickness shall have the 
steel equally distributed on each face 
.of the wall. 

The vertical steel shall not be re¬ 


lied on to carry load unless tied and 
arranged as in reinforced columns. 

No reinforced concrete bearing wall 
shall have the bars farther apart in 
each direction than eighteen (18) 
inches, regardless of whether the 
steel is disposed in one or two layers, 
nor shall less than the equivalent of 
three eighth (%) inch round bars be 
so used. 

As used in this section, the lateral 
support for such walls shall consist 
of a reinforced concrete floor when 
the framing is on one side of the 
wall only, or of a non-fireproof floor, 
training on both sides of the wall; 
provided that for residences frame 
construction properly tied may be 
used as support. 

Eccentric loads and wind stresses 
shall be fully provided for. 

Subject to the other requirements 
of this section, reinforced concrete 
bearing walls shall have a thickness 
at least equal to that specified below. 
(Basement walls shall be at least as 
thick as the walls over them). 


Number of 


Story 

Thickness. 

Stories 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 9 10 

1. . 

6 








2. . 

6 

6 







3. . 

7 

7 

6 






4. . 

8 

7 

7 

6 





5. . 

8 

8 

, 7 

7 

6 




6. . 

9 

8 

8 

7 

7 

6 



rt 

4 . . 

9 

9 

S 

8 

7 

7 

6 


8. . 

10 

9 

9 

8 

8 

7 

7 

6 

9 . . 

10 

10 

9 

9 

8 

8 

7 

7 6 

10. . 

12 

10 

10 

9 

9 

8 

8 

7 7 6 

Exterior 

bearing 

walls 

of 

non-fire- 


proof buildings may be of reinforced 
concrete, subject to the provisions of 
this section, when increased fifty per 
cent. (50%) in thickness over the 
above tabe. 

In such, walls, the amount of rein¬ 
forcement shall be at least one-tenth 
(1/10) of one per cent (1%) in each 
direction, horizontal and vertical, the 
steel being equally distributed on 
each face of the wall, with a maxi¬ 
mum bar spacing of twenty-four (24) 
inches. 

Stairway and elevator enclosures in 
all classes of buildings may be built 
of reinforced concrete, when the wall 
thicknesses are in accordance with 
the above table, and the said walls 
are reinforced in accordance with the 
provisions threto. 

Section 446. Curtain and filler w r alls 
of reinforced concrete shall not be 
less than four (4) inches thick, and 
shall be reinforced with not less than 
one-fifth (1/5) of one per cent. (1%) 
of steel in each direction, vertilal and 
horizontal. The spacing of bars shall 
not be more than eighteen inches 
(IS in) in each direction. When cur¬ 
tain walls are built monolithic with 
columns or bearing walls, they may 
be reinforced to carry their own 
weight. 

Curtain walls in one story dwell¬ 
ings when constructed in accordance 
with this section may be used as 
bearing walls. All such walls shall 
be well anchored 

Section. 447. No system of rein¬ 
forced concrete construction shall be 
used which does not admit of rational 
anaysis in accordance with estab¬ 
lished principles of mechanics. It is 
not the intention of this ordinance to 
exclude new and improved types of 
construction, but any special system 
of reinforcement or any new type of 
construction shall be submitted to the 










The Building Code 


59 


Superintendent of Buildings in ample 
time for him to make such tests and 
investigation as may he necessary to 
establish the safety of the new sys¬ 
tem,, and assure that the stresses 
established herein are not exceeded. 

Section 448. No water, steam, soil 
or vent pipes shall be built into the 
compression area of any concrete col¬ 
umn, beam, girder or slab; conduits 
imbedded in floor slabs or other struc¬ 
tural members shall be so placed as 
not to impair the structural strength 

Section 449. Continuous flat slabs 
reinforced with steel rods or steel 
mesh and supported in orderly ar¬ 
rangement shall conform to the fol¬ 
lowing requirements: 

(a) The principal design sections 
for critical moments in flat slabs 
subjected to uniform load shall be as 
follows: 

1. For negative moment in the 
middle strip, a section on a panel 
edge which begins at a point one- 
fourth (14) the span length from the 
column center and extends one-half 
( V 2 ) the span length along the same 
panel edge. 

2. For negative moment in the 
column strip, a section beginning on 
a panel edge at a point one-fourth 
(14) the span length from the column 
center and extending inward toward 
the same column to a point c/2 the 
intersection with the capital cone 
base, thence one-quarter (14) of the 
circumference of the base of the cone 
(radius = c/2), to the adjacent rec¬ 
tangular panel edge. 

3. For the positive moment in the 
middle strip, a section beginning at 
the center of one edge of the middle 
strip and extending rectangularly a 
distance equal to one-half (!£) the 
panel length to the other edge of the 
same strip. 

4. For positive moment in the 
column strip, a section beginning at 
the middle of one edge of a column 


strip and extending rectangularly a 
distance equal to one-fourth of the 
panel length to the other edge of the 
same strip. 

(b) In flat slabs in which the ra¬ 
tio of reinforcement for negative 
moment in the column strip is not 
greater than 0.01, the numerical sum 
of the positive and negative moments 
in the direction of either side of the 
panel shall not be less than 

Mo = 0.09 WL(1—2c/3L) 2 
in which Mo equals the sum of the 
positive and negative bending 
moments in either rectangular 
direction at the principal design 
sections of a panel of a flat slab. 

c equals the base diameter of the 
largest right circular cone which 
lies entirely within the column, 
(capital included), whose vertex 
angle is 90 degrees and whose 
base is one and one-half (1%) 
inches below the bottom of the 
slab or bottom of the dropped 
panel. 

L equals the span length of a flat 
slab, center to center of columns 
in the rectangular direction in 
which moments are considered. 

W equals the total live and dead 
load uniformly distributed over 
a single panel area. 

(c) The moments in the principal 
design sections shall be those given 
in the following table, except that 

1. The sum of the maximum nega¬ 
tive moments in the two column 
strips may be greater or less than 
the values in the following table 
by not more than 0.03 Mo. 

2. The maximum negative moment 
in the middle strip, the maximum 
positive moment in the middle 
strip and the sum of the max¬ 
imum positive moments in the 
two column strips, may each be 
greater than the values in the 
following table by not more than 
0.01 Mo. 


MOMENTS TO BE USED IN DESIGN OF FLAT SLABS 
Flat Slabs Without Flat Slabs With 

Strip Dropped Panels Dropped Panels 

Negative Positive Negative Positive 


SLABS WITH 2-WAY REINFORCEMENT 


Column strip 

0.23 

Mo 

0.11 

Mo 

0.25 

Mo 

0.10 Mo 

2 Column strips 

0.46 

Mo 

0.22 

Mo 

0.50 

Mo 

0.20 Mo 

Middle strip 

0.16 

Mo 

0.16 

Mo 

0.15 

Mo 

0.15 Mo 

SLABS WITH 4-WAY REINFORCEMENT 


Column strip 

0.25 

Mo 

0.10 

Mo 

0.27 

Mo 

0.095 Mo 

2 Column strips 

.0.50 

Mo 

0.20 

Mo 

0.54 

Mo 

0.190 Mo 

Middle strip 

0.10 

Mo 

0.20 

Mo 

0.08 

Mo 

0.190 Mo 


ISAACSON CO. IRON WORKS 

MANUFACTURERS 
Circle Brand 

Structural Steel-Galvanizing 

Engineers—Steel Fabricators 
Marine—Ship Forgings 



Foot of King Street 


Railroad, Logging and Contractors’ Equipment 
Established 1907 Telephone MA in 3756 












The Building Code 



VAST BUYING POWER 



'mmmmmmnimsMm msa 

IS REPRESENTED BY 
THE READERS of THE 



Concentrated Circulation to Business Men 


THROUGHOUT THE RICH NORTHWEST 
STATES, THE WESTERN WORLD’S SHIPPING 
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AND WESTERN MONTANA 

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Official Newspaper, Published Daily Except Sunday at 83 Co¬ 
lumbia Street, Seattle, U. S. A. 
























The Building Code 


61 


(d) The total thickness of the 
dropped panel in inches or of the 
slab, if no dropped panel is used, 
shall not be less than, 

t 1 = l%" 4 . 0.0382 (1-1.44 c/L)L 
times the square root of 
(Rw' Li/bi) 

where R equals the ratio of negative 
moment in the two column strips 
to Mo. 

w' equals the uniformly distributed 
dead and live load per unit of 
floor area. 

(Note: The thickness will be in 
inches regardless of whether L 
and w' are in feet and pounds 
per square foot or in inches and 
pounds per square inch.) 

For slabs with dropped panels, the 
total thickness in inches at points 
away from the dropped panel shall 
not be less than: 

t 2 = 1" 4- 0.02 L times the 
square root of w' 

The slab thickness, tj. or t 2 , shall 
in no case be less than one-thirty- 
second (1/32) of the span for floors 
and not less than one-fortieth (1/40) 
of the span for roof slabs. In de¬ 
termining slab thickness by the for¬ 
mulae herein given, the value of L 
shall be the panel length center to 
center of columns on the long side 
of the panel, La shall be the panel 
length on the short side of the panel, 
and bi shall be the width or diameter 
of the dropped panel in the direction 
of Li, except that in a slab without 
dropped panel, bi shall be 0.5 In. 

(e) The dropped panel shall have 
a length or diameter in each rectangu¬ 
lar direction of not less than one- 
third (1/3) the panel length in that 
direction, and a thickness not greater 
than 1.5 t 2 . 

(f) In wall panels and other pan¬ 
els in which the slab is discontinuous 
at the edge of the panel, the maxi¬ 
mum negative moment one panel 
length away from the discontinuous 
edge and the maximum positive mo¬ 
ment shall be modified as follows: 

1. On the column strip perpendicu¬ 
lar to the wall or discontinuous 
edge, fifteen per cent. (15%) 
greater than that given in the 
table of heading (c) of this sec¬ 
tion. 

2. On the middle strip perpendicu¬ 
lar to the wall or discontinuous 
edge, thirty per cent. (30%) 
greater than that given in the 
table of heading (c) of this sec¬ 
tion. 

In these strips, the bars used for 
positive moments perpendicular to 
the discontinuous edge shall extend 
to the exterior edge of the panel at 
which the slab is discontinuous. 

(g) In panels having a marginal 
beam on one edge or on each of two 
adjacent edges, the beam shall be de¬ 
signed to carry the load superimposed 
directly upon it. If the beam has a 
greater depth than the thickness of 
the dropped panel into which it 
frames, the beam shall be designed 
to carry, in addition to the load super¬ 
imposed upon it, at least one-fourth 
(%) of the distributed load for which 
the adjacent panel or panels are de¬ 
signed, and each column strip ad¬ 
jacent to and parallel to the beam 
shall be designed to resist a moment 
at least one-half (%) that specified 
in the table of heading (c), this sec¬ 
tion, for a column strip. If the beam 
used has a depth less than the thick¬ 


ness of the dropped panel into which 
it frames, each column strip adjacent 
to and parallel to the beam shall be 
designed to resist the moments spec¬ 
ified in the table of heading (c). this 
section, for a column strip. Where 
there are beams on two opposite 
edges of a panel, the slab and beam 
shall be designed as if all the load 
were to be carried to the beam. 

(h) The negative moments on sec¬ 
tions at and parallel to the wall or 
discontinuous edge of an interior 
panel shall be determined by the con¬ 
ditions of restraint. 

(k) Where there is a beam or a 
bearing wall on the center line of 
columns in the interior portion of a 
continuous flat slab, the negative mo¬ 
ment at the beam or wall line in the 
middle strip perpendicular to the 
beam or wall shall be taken thirty 
per cent. (30%) greater than the 
amount specified in the table of 
heading (c), this section, for a middle 
strip. 

(l) The column strip adjacent to 
and lying on either side of the beam 
or wall shall be designed to resist a 
monxenf at least one-half (%) of that 
specified in the table of heading (c), 
this section, for a column strip. 

(m) The point of inflection in any 
line parallel to a panel edge in in¬ 
terior panels of symmetrical slabs 
without dropped panels shall be as¬ 
sumed to be at a distance from the 
center of the span equal to three- 
tenths (3/10) of the distance between 
the two ( 2 ) sections of critical nega¬ 
tive moment at opposite ends of the 
line; for slabs having dropped panels, 
the coefficient shall be one-quarter 
(%). 

(n) The reinforcement bars which 
cross any section and which fulfill 
the requirements herein given may be 
considered as effective in resisting the 
moment at the section. The sectional 
area of a bar multiplied by the co¬ 
sine of the angle which the bar makes 
with any other direction may be con¬ 
sidered as reinforcement in that 
direction. The design shall include 
adequate provision for holding the 
reinforcement in position so as to take 
not only the critical moments but all 
moments at intermediate sections. 
All bars in rectangular or diagonal 
directions shall extend on each side 
of a section of critical moment, either 
positive or negative, to points at least 
twenty ( 20 ) diameters beyond the 
point of inflection. In addition to this 
provision, bars in diagonal directions 
used as reinforcement for negative 
moment shall extend on each side of 
a line drawn through the column 
center at right angles to the direction 
of the band at least a distance of 
0.35 of the panel length, and bars in 
diagonal directions used as reinforce¬ 
ments for positive moment shall ex¬ 
tend on each side of a diagonal 
through the panel center a distance 
equal to at least 0.35 of the panel 
length. No splice made by lapping 
the bars shall be made in regions of 
maximum stress except as just de¬ 
scribed. 

(o) At least two-thirds (2/3) of all 
bars in each direction shall be of 
such length and shall be so placed 
as to provide reinforcement at two 
sections of critical negative moment 
and at the intermediate section of 
critical positive moment. 

(p) Continuous bars shall not all 





62 


The Building Code 



f -—-- n 

Structural Steel, Ornamental Iron, Sidewalk Doors, Fire Escapes, 

Stand Pipes, Fire Doors, Elevators, Anchors, Casting-, Grills, 
Safeguard Construction, Elevator Enclosures, Heavy Sheet Iron, 
Automatic Gates, Mining Buckets, Folding Gates, Joist Hangers, 

Wire Grills, Post Caps, Cabs. 

PHONE GA rfld 0956 


RELIABLE IRON & WIRE WORKS 

ACETYLENE WELDING 

409 Elliott Avenue West 


BEK EEBZ, Manager. SEATTLE, WASH. 



OLYMPIC FOUNDRY COMPANY 

GLENDALE 0050 


IRON FOUNDERS 



We manufacture all kinds of CAST IRON for building 
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Handhole Covers 
Plain Brain Gratings 
Oil Filler Pipe Covens 


Inserts for Concrete Work 
Cleanout Boors 
Wheel Guards 
Leader Boxes and Shoes 
Grate Bars 









The Building Code 


63 


be bent up at the same point of their 
length, but the zone of bending shall 
extend on each side of the point of 
inflection and shall occupy a width 
of at least one-fifteenth (1/15) of 
the panel length. Mere sagging of 
the bars is prohibited. In four-way 
reinforcement, the position of the 
bars in both diagonal and rectangular 
directions may be considered in de¬ 
termining the sufficiency of the bend¬ 
ing zone width. 

(q) The following formula shall be 
used in computing the tensile stress 
fs in the reinforcement of flat slabs; 
the stress so computed shall not ex¬ 
ceed the unit stresses specified in 
Section 429. 

fs = R Mo/As jd 

where R Mo equals the moment, spec¬ 
ified in the table of heading (c) 
of this section for two column 
strips or for one middle strip. 

As equals the effective cross sec¬ 
tional area of the reinforcement 
which crosses any of the prin¬ 
cipal design sections and which 
meets the requirements of length 
bending, continuity and placing 
specified in this section. 

(r) The following formula shall 
be used in computing maximum com¬ 
pressive stress in the concrete in flat 
slabs; the stresses so computed shall 
not exceed those specified in Section 
429: 

(1) Compression due to negative 
moment R Mo in the two column 
strips. 

fc = (3.5 RMo/kjbid 2 ) (1 — 1.2 c/L) 

(2) Compression due to positive 
moment R Mo, in the two column 
strips, or negative or positive 
moment in the middle strip. 

fc = 6 R Mo/kjLid 2 

(s) The unit shearing stress shall 
not exceed the value of v in the for¬ 
mula: 

v = 0.02 f'c (1 - 1 - r) 
nor in any case shall it exceed 
0.03 f'c. 

The unit shearing stress shall be 
computed on 

(1) A vertical section which lies 
at a distance in inches of ti— 1 V 2 
from the edge of the column cap¬ 
ital; and 

(2) A vertical section which lies 
at a distance in inches of t 2 —1 Yz 
from the edge of the dropped 
panel. 

In no case shall r be less than 
0.25. Where the shearing on section 
( 1 ) is being considered, r shall be 
taken as the proportional amount of 
reinforcement crossing the column 
capital; where the shearing stress at 
section ( 2 ) is being considered, r shall 
be taken as the proportional amount 
of reinforcement crossing entirely 
over the dropped panel. 

(t) The moment coefficients, mo¬ 
ment distribution and slab thick¬ 
nesses specified herein are for slabs 
which have three or more rows of 
panels in each direction, and in which 
the panels are approximately uniform 
in size. For structures having a 
width of one or two panels, and also 
for slabs having panels of markedly 
different sizes, an analysis shall be 
made of the two moments developed 
in both slab and columns, and the 
coefficients modified accordingly. Slabs 
with panelled ceilings or with de¬ 
pressed panelling shall fulfill the re¬ 
quirements herein given. 

(u) Provision shall be made in 


both wall and interior columns for 
the bending moment which may be 
developed by unequally loaded panels, 
eccentric loading, or unequal spacing 
of columns. 

The resistance of any wall column 
to bending in a direction perpendicu¬ 
lar to the wall shall not be less than 

(1) For columns with square capi¬ 
tals 

0.04 w'L x (Ly —0.75c ) 2 

(2) For columns with round or 
octagonal capitals 

0.04 w'Lx(Ly — 0.66c ) 2 

in which L x is the panel length 
perpendicular to the wall, 

and Ly is the panel length parallel 
to the wall. 

The moment in such columns may 
be reduced by the balancing moment 
of the weight of the structure which 
projects beyond the center line of the 
supporting wall column. Where the 
column extends through the story 
above, the moment shall be divided 
between the upper and lower column 
in proportion to their relative stiff¬ 
ness. 

Section 450. Before construction is 
begun on any reinforced concrete 
structure which is required to be 
supervised, the owner of the proposed 
structure shall employ a supervisor 
who shall be possessed of the quali¬ 
fications herein required for same. 

The supervisor for concrete con¬ 
struction shall be a person thoroughly 
qualified by knowledge and experience 
in the design and the construction of 
reinforced concrete structures. He 
shall have a thorough knowledge of 
the design of concrete mixtures by 
the following methods: (1) Arbitrary 
proportions; (2) Density of aggre¬ 
gate; (3) Density of Concrete; (4) 
Sieve Analysis; (5) Surface area of 
aggregate; ( 6 ) Fineness Modulus. He 
must at all times keep himself well 
informed about the developments in 
the science of designing concrete mix¬ 
tures. He shall also know the rela¬ 
tion between the strength of con¬ 
crete and the water-cement ratio. He 
shall have direct control of all factors 
other than design which affect the 
strength of the structure. He shall 
keep neat and accurate records of all 
tests and progress of the work, and 
of all other items involving the fitness 
of materials or workmanship for the 
work in hand. He shall: 

(1) Ascertain the sieve analysis 
of the aggregate. 

(2) See that only the specified pro¬ 
portions of cement, sand and 
gravel are used in the construc¬ 
tion. 

(3) See that the time of mixing the 
concrete is as herein specified. 

(4) Regulate the quantity of water 
in the mixture in accordance with 
the provisions of Section 412. 

(5) Make a sufficient number of 
slump tests to know the slump 
of all concrete used, and record 
the results of such tests. 

(6) See that the steel is placed in 
accordance with the approved 
plans and the provisions of this 
ordinance. 

(7) Supervise the making of the 
test cylinders and record their 
strength at the age of twenty- 
eight (28) days. 

( 8 ) See that green concrete is prop¬ 
erly cured and that adequate pro¬ 
tection is given work in cold 
weather. 





64 


The Building Code 


Should it become necessary to make 
any change in aggregate used in the 
work, the supervisor shall promptly 
report such condition to the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings. 

The records of the supervisor shall 
be open at all times to the Superin ■ 
tendent of Buildings and his autho¬ 
rized representatives and shall be 
filed with the Superintendent of 
Buildings at the completion of the 
work. 

It shall be the duty of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings to determine by 
an examination that every supervisor 
is possessed of the knowledge and 
experience herein required for such 
position and it shall be unlawful for 
any person to place any concrete in 
any structure requiring supervision 
unless there be present a supervisor 
who has been found competent by the 
Superintendent of Building to super¬ 
vise the building of said structure. 

The cost of the supervision and of 
testing cement, steel, aggregate and 
concrete cylinders shall be borne by 
the owner. 

Section 451. When poor workman¬ 
ship, or materials, or new methods 
of design make it necessary to de¬ 
termine the strength of a reinforced 
concrete structure, the whole or por¬ 
tion of it shall be subjected to a load 
test upon notice from, and under the 
direction of, the Superintendent of 
Buildings. Such tests shall be made 
when the concrete in the structure is 
not less than twenty-eight (28) days 
old. The test load carried by the 
structure shall be equal to twice the 
sum of the live and dead loads for 
which it is designed; the dead weight 
of the structure being considered as 


part of the load. The structure shall 
not be approved unless it sustains the 
test load without signs of failure. 

Section 452. It shall be unlawful 
to maintain as a supervisor on any 
concrete construction any person who 
fails, neglects or refuses to comply 
with any of the provisions of this 
ordinance, or with any lawful re¬ 
quirement of the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Section 453. In reinforced concrete 
skeleton construction or in steel skel¬ 
eton construction, or on any structuie 
having exterior concrete walls ve¬ 
neered with brick, stone or terra 
cotta, angles or other structural 
shapes required to carry wall facings 
shall be bolted or secured in such a 
manner that the weight of the facing 
will be borne directly by the struc¬ 
tural frame or bearing wall. 

In skeleton construction, the veneer 
facing shall be carried at each floor 
level, and the supports shall be wide 
enough for purposes of stability and 
for safe bearing area. 

In buildings over two stories high, 
the veneer facings of concrete bear¬ 
ing walls shall be carried on angle 
iron shelves or other adequate sup¬ 
port at every floor level. 

Section 454. All structural steel 
shall comply with the standard speci- 
cations of the American Society for 
Testing Materials, as published in the 
Carnegie Pocket Companion, twenty- 
second edition, Serial Designation 
A9-16, which specifications were filed 
in the office of the City Comptroller 
and ex-officio City Clerk on the 19th 
day of December, 1921, and are now 
on file therein, as File No. 83316, and 



STRUCTURAL STEEL 


PLAIN AND FABRICATED 

A Large Tonnage of All Structural 
Shapes Carried in Stock. 

RAILWAY SUPPLIES 

ALL KINDS. 


Hofius Steel & Equipment Company 


28th Floor L C. Smith Bldg. SEATTLE. 














The Building Code 


65 


by such reference are hereby made a 
part hereof to the same extent as if 
herein fully set forth. 

Cast iron shall be of good foundry 
mixture producing a tough gray 
iron. 

Cast steel shall be free from 
cracks, comparatively free from por¬ 
osity, tough and ductile. 

Structural steel may be either Bes¬ 
semer or open hearth. 

Section 455. The maximum allow¬ 
able working stresses in pounds per 
square inch in steel and iron shall 
not exceed those given in the follow¬ 
ing table: 

Rolled Cast Cast 
Tension—net sec- Steel Steel Iron 

tion .16000 16000 

Compression — 

gross section.. 16000 16000 10000 

Bending, extreme 

fibre.16000 16000 

Bending on ex¬ 
treme fibre com¬ 
pression . 10000 

Bending on ex¬ 
treme fibre ten¬ 
sion . 3000 

Bending on ex¬ 
treme fibre pins 24000 
Shear—shop driv¬ 
en rivets and 

pins . 12000 

Shear-field driven 

rivets .10000 

Shear on rolled 

shapes.12000 

Shear on plate 
girder webs, 
gross section . .10000 
Shear on brackets 2000 

Bearing, shop 
driven rivets 
per cent. (25%). 

and pins.24000 

In steel tanks where there is no 
chance of an overload, the above 
stresses may be increased twenty-five 
per cent. (25%). 

Section 456. The allowable com¬ 
pressive stress per square inch for 
columns shall be determined by the 
following formulae: 

Steel columns—16000—70 L/R 
but not to exceed 14000 pounds. 

Cast iron columns—10000—60 
L/R. 

For columns encased in concrete, 
see Section 443. 

Stresses due to eccentric loads 
shall be fully provided for in all 
columns. 

For stresses produced by wind 
load combined with those of live 
and dead load, the unit stress may 
be increased fifty per cent. (50%) 
over the stresses herein specified; 
but the section shall not be less 
than required if the wind forces 
be neglected. 

The length of rolled steel col¬ 
umns shall not exceed one hundred 
twenty (120) times the least radius 
of gyration, except for struts for 
wind bracing only may be not to 
exceed one hundred fifty (150) 
times the least radius of gyration. 

The length of cast iron columns 
shall not exceed seventy (70) times 
the least radius of gyration. 
Section 457. In proportioning ten¬ 
sion members, the diameter of rivet 
holes shall be taken one-eighth (%) 
of an inch larger than the nominal 
diameter of the rivet. In propor¬ 
tioning rivets, the nominal diameter 
shall be used. 


Pin connected tension members 
shall have a net section through the 
pin hole at least twenty-five per cent. 
(25%) in excess of the net section 
of the member, and the net section 
back of the pinhole parallel with the 
axis of the member shall not be less 
than the net section of the body of 
the member. 

Section 458. Plate girder webs 
shall have a thickness of not less 
than 1/160th of the unsupported dis¬ 
tance between flange angles. The 
webs shall have stiffeners generally 
in pairs, over bearings, at points of 
concentrated leading, and at other 
points where the thickness of the 
web is less than l/60th of the un¬ 
supported ditsance between flange 
angles with a maximum of six (6) 
feet. 

The lateral unsupported length of 
plate girders or of rolled steel beams 
shall not exceed forty (40) times the 
width of the compression flange. 
When the unsupported length exceeds 
ten (10) times the width of the com¬ 
pression flange, the stress per square 
inch in the compression flange shall 
not exceed 

19000—300L/B 

where B is the flange width and L 
the unsupported length. 

Section 459. When necessary to* 
secure compliance with the provi¬ 
sion of this ordinance, experts shall 
be employed to supervise the mill, 
shop and field work of structural 
steel, who shall file copies of their 
reports on the progress of the work r 
and no work shall be concealed or 
built upon until the Superintendent 
of Buildings has been furnished 
proof that it conforms to the ac¬ 
cepted standard. 

Section 460. In steel skeleton con¬ 
struction, the beams and girders shall 
be riveted at their junctions. If col¬ 
umns made of rolled shapes are used, 
their different parts shall be riveted 
together, and the beams and girders 
shall be riveted to connect them to 
the columns. 

If cast iron columns are used, the 
column sections shall be bolted to¬ 
gether by at least four (4) bolts not 
less than three-fourths (%) inch in 
diameter, and beams and girders shall 
be bolted to the columns. All bolt 
holes in cast iron columns shall be 
drilled. 

Cast iron columns shall not be 
used in buildings of greater height 
than twice the width, nor in build¬ 
ings over eighty (80) feet high. 

Wherever it is found impossible 
to rivet connections as herein pre¬ 
scribed, cold rolled or turned bolts 
of exact fit and diameter in reamed 
holes shall be used, with allowable 
stresses as for field rivets. 

Section. 461. All structural mem¬ 
bers which are temporarily bolted 
together shall be well bolted in every 
alternate hole. 

All structural steel and iron work 
shall be firmly braced and held in 
place during erection and until it is 
firmly riveted up and secured in its 
correct position by metal braces or 
by being enclosed in masonry. 

Permanent steel braces shall be 
used in the lower stories of steel 
framed buildings over eleven stories 
high. The number of stories so 
braced, independently of the require- 
I ments of wind bracing, shall not be 













66 


The Building Code 


less than 2 (N—10), in which N is 
the total number of stories. Build¬ 
ings over twenty stories high shall 
be braced in all stories. 

All steel trusses shall be riveted, 
and all trusses shall be rigidly held 
in position, both permanently and 
temporarily, by effective lateral and 
sway bracing. 

Section 462. All structural details 
and workmanship shall be at least 
equal to the requirements of the 
Specifications for Steel Structures of 
the American Bridge Company, pub¬ 
lished in the twenty-second edition 


of the Carnegie Pocket Companion, 
page 136, a copy of which specifica¬ 
tions were filed in the office of the 
City Comptroller and ex-officio City 
Clerk on the 19th day of December, 
1921, and are now on file therein as 
File No. 83316, to which reference is 
made and by such reference made a 
part hereof to the same extent as 
if herein fully set forth. 

Section 463. AH structural steel 
shall be clean and free from loose 
rust and scale, and all steel, except 
that to be imbedded in concrete, shall 
have at least two coats of steel pro¬ 
tective paint. 


PART 5 FIRE HAZARDS REGULATIONS 


Section 501. In any building, a 
floor occupied as a place of habita¬ 
tion, refuge or detention shall, ex¬ 
cept as hereinafter provided, be di¬ 
vided by fire walls, so located that 
the area of the floor shall not exceed 
the number of square feet indicated 
in the following table: 

Ordinary 

Mill Masonry Frame 

Buildings Buildings Buildings 
12,000 8,000 6,000 
In any building, a floor occupied by 
one or more stores, offices, factories, 
workshops, garages, warehouses, 
stables, hangars, or for purposes pro¬ 
ducing an equivalent fire hazard, 
shall, except as herinafter provided, 
be divided by fire walls so located 
that the area of no floor shall exceed 
the number of square feet indicated 
in the following table, except that 
fireproof office buildings are not lim¬ 
ited as to the area of any floor used 
exclusively for office purposes: 


permitted above shall be equipped in 
each story with one or more two (2) 
inch standpipes which shall be con¬ 
nected to city water mains and shall 
be equipped with fifty (50) feet of 
one and one-half (l 1 ^) inch service¬ 
able, unlined, linen hose, and a play 
pipe not less than eight (8) inches 
long and having a three-fourth (%) 
inch outlet attached to each. The 
number of standpipes on each floor 
shall be such that all portions of 
each story will be within fifty-five 
(55) feet of a standpipe. 

Section 503. Store buildings of 
fireproof construction having all ele¬ 
vators, stairways and other openings 
through the floors enclosed with fire¬ 
proof construction and fire doors are 
not restricted as to the undivided 
floor area, providing each such build¬ 
ing is equipped throughout with an 
automatic sprinkler system con¬ 
structed as hereinafter specified. 


Ordinary 

Fireproof Mill Masonry Frame 
Buildings. Buildings. Buildings. Buildings 
On lots with more than one 

street frontage . 20,000 15,000 10,000 8,000 

On lots with only one street 

frontage . 18,000 14,400 9,000 7,200 


Section 502. In the fourth build-' 
ing district, one-story factory build¬ 
ings manufacturing exclusively prod¬ 
ucts which are mainly composed of 
incombustible material, and one- 
story warehouses used entirely for 
the storage of incombustible mater¬ 
ial, are not restricted as to the un¬ 
divided floor area of the first story 
if the building is constructed of fire¬ 
proof, mill or ordinary masonry con¬ 
struction, or frame construction hav¬ 
ing floor, roof and wall sheathing of 
two (2) inch by six (6) inch tongued 
and grooved, and having posts not 
less than eight (8) inches in least 
dimension, and other structural mem¬ 
bers not less than six (6) inches in 
least dimension, except that braces 
and girts may be four (4) inches in 
least dimension, or when the ma¬ 
terial is constructed of equally fire 
resistive material. 

If located in the fourth building 
district, two-story, fireproof, mill, or¬ 
dinary masonry or frame buildings, 
provided the latter are constructed 
as specified in this section for one- 
story, frame buildings, may, if used 
exclusively for the manufacturing 
therein of products which are com¬ 
posed mainly of incombustible ma¬ 
terial, have undivided first and sec¬ 
ond floor areas one-third (1/3) great¬ 
er than indicated in the above table. 

Provided, further, that any build¬ 
ing having floor areas increased as 


The allowable floor area of any 
building having its stairwells, ele¬ 
vator shafts and other floor openings 
enclosed as required by this Code, 
and having its means of egress com¬ 
plying in all respects with the Code, 
may be increased one hundred per 
cent (100%) if the building is 
equipped throughout with an auto¬ 
matic sprinkler system. 

Section 504. In non-fireproof 
buildings, all attics or unfinished 
spaces between the ceilings and roofs 
must be divided into compartments 
having areas not to exceed thirty-six 
hundred (3600) square feet. The di¬ 
viding partitions shall, if possible, 
be placed immediately above a par¬ 
tition in the top story of the building 
and shall be constructed of two (2) 
thicknesses of one-inch matched or 
lapped lumber with plasterboard be¬ 
tween. The plasterboard shall be 
fitted tightly around all joists, 
beams, etc. Each dividing partition 
must contain a self-closing door not 
smaller than two (2) feet in least 
dimension, which closes into a two 
(2) inch rabbet on sides, top and 
bottom. Such doors shall be of the 
same construction as the dividing 
partitions. 

No shaft, chute, vent or duct may 
open into an attic or other unfinished 
space unless such attic or unfinished 















The Building Code 


67 


space is of fireproof construction and 
contains no combustible material. 

Section 505. Adjoining buildings 
may be connected by openings, 
whether the buildings be of similar 
or different classes of construction. 
When two (2) buildings are con' 
nected they shall be considered as 
separate buildings except where the 
construction, area and occupancy of 
the buildings, when considered as a 
unit, would permit of their being 
constructed as a single building 
without division walls. Where the 
two (2) buildings may be constructed 
as one, fire doors are not required 
on the openings between the two 

(2) buildings, but in all other cases 
said openings shall be equipped with 
fire doors as required elsewhere in 
this Code for the openings in divi¬ 
sion walls. 

Section 5G6. All division walls, 
except in frame buildings, must be 
constructed of masonry and conform 
to the requirements for masonry 
walls found in other parts of this 
Code. Masonry division walls must 
extend from the ground to three (3) 
feet above the highest adjacent roof 
of the building. Walls having off¬ 
sets shall be considered as being con¬ 
tinuous, provided the several parts 
of the wall are connected by rein¬ 
forced concrete slabs so as to make 
the separation between the divisions 
of the building complete. The thick¬ 
ness of said slabs shall be not less 
than four (4) inches. 

In frame buildings, fire walls shall 
be constructed of two (2) thicknesses 
of two (2) inch tongued and grooved 
lumber not more than six (6) inches 
wide placed vertically and breaking 
joints, and having plasterboard or 
galvanized sheet metal between them; 
or, if plastered on both sides, using 
metal lath or plasterboard, may be 
constructed of two (2) thicknesses of 
two (2) inch, square edged, lumber 
placed vertically and breaking joints. 

Division walls of wood must be 
continuous from the ground to three 

(3) feet above the highest adjacent 
roof of the building, and shall have 
no beam, joint or floor passing 
through or entering them. 

The openings in division walls 
must be minimized, both as to num¬ 
ber and size, and if the wall is re¬ 
quired by this Code to be of masonry, 
the openings in it shall be protected 
on both sides of the wall by Are 
doors. 

If the division wall be In a frame 
building, the openings must be pro¬ 


tected on one side of the wall by a 
fire door. 

Section 507. Distances between 
buildings, or between lot lines and 
buildings, shall be measured from 
the extremity of the projections. 

Except as otherwise provided in 
this section, frame residences shall 
be not less than eighteen (18) inches 
from the lot lines of adpacent prop¬ 
erty. 

Except as otherwise provided in 
this section, frame buildings other 
than residences shall be no less than 
three (3) feet from the lot lines of 
adjacent property. 

Any frame building may be built 
up to the lot line of adjacent prop¬ 
erty if the walls and parts of walls 
of said building which are less than 
three (3) feet from the lot line extend 
from the ground to one (1) foot 
above the roof and are constructed 
of fireproof material not thinner than 
four (4) inches or of double tongued 
and grooved lumber placed vertically 
with broken joints, or of solid two 

(2) inch by four (4) inch laminated 
construction covered on both sides 
with either plaster, sheet metal, wood 
sheathing or equivalent. All open¬ 
ings in said walls shall be fireproof 
unless the building is occupied as a 
hotel, office building or as a place of 
habitation or refuge. 

Frame buildings other than resi¬ 
dences may be constructed up to the 
lot line of adjacent property without 
fire resisting walls as above de¬ 
scribed if said buildings are not over 
four hundred (400) square feet in 
area, not over twelve (12) feet high, 
not less than ten (10) feet from the 
door or window of a place of habi¬ 
tation or refuge on adjacent proper¬ 
ty, and if not less than three (3) 
feet from any frame building on ad¬ 
jacent property except one which is 
not larger than four hundred (400) 
square feet nor higher than twelve 
(12) feet, and which is not a resi¬ 
dence. 

Two or more frame buildings on 
the same lot shall, unless separated 
from each other by a space of three 

(3) feet or more, or by a division 
wall, be considered as one building: 
Provided, that one frame garage hav¬ 
ing not more than two hundred (200) 
square feet of total floor area may 
be constructed outside of and against 
the wall of a plastered residence, 
without being considered as a part 
of said residence, except for the pur¬ 
pose of regulating the proximity of 
the entire structure to the lot lines 
of adjacent property and buildings 



! - : .; ' • i ■ 

i 


Raecolith 
Dry-Chloride 
Cement Stucco 



fa*KS£ 


For Warehouses, Basements, 

For Residences, Public and Roof Gardens, and Heavy 

Private Buildings. Duty Floors. 

RAECOLITH, WATSONITE AND MASOLEUM FLOORING 

THE RAECOUTH FLOORING COMPANY 

2 SANFORD STREET, SEATTLE MA in 7254 
















68 


The Building Code 


located thereon. However, if the 
garage extends under any part of 
the residence or is within three (3) 
feet of any unplastered part of a 
frame exterior wall of said residence, 
all parts of the garage which are 
within three (3) feet of the residence 
shall be constructed as elsewhere 
herein required for a Class “B” gar¬ 
age within a residence. 

Section 510. Where automatic 
sprinklers are required by this Code, 
they shall be installed in accordance 
with the following specifications: 

A—Sprinkler deflectors shall be 
parallel to ceilings, roofs or the in¬ 
cline of stairs, but when installed 
in the peak of a pitched roof they 
shall be horizontal. Distance of de¬ 
flectors from ceilings of mill or other 
smooth construction, or bottom of 
joists of open joist construction, shall 
be not less than three (3) inches nor 
more than ten (10) inches. Note par¬ 
ticularly that the rule for distance 
refers to the deflector of the sprink¬ 
ler. 

B—The space beneath the balconies 
shall be sprinklered in all cases 
where the balconies are over forty- 
two (42) inches wide. 

C—The distance from a wall or 
partition to the first sprinkler shall 
not exceed one-half (%) the allow¬ 
able distance between sprinklers in 
the same direction. 

D—A line of sprinklers shall be 
run on each side of each partition. 
Cutting holes through a partition to 
allow a sprinkler on one side thereof 
to distribute water on the other side 
is not permitted. 

E—Under mill ceiling (smooth 
solid plank and timber construction, 
5 to 12 foot bays), one line of sprink¬ 
lers shall be placed in the center of 
each bay and the distance between 
the sprinklers on each line shall not 
exceed the following: 

8 feet in 12-foot bays 

9 “ “ 11 “ 

10 “ “ 10 “ 

n “ “ 9 “ 

12 feet in 5 to 8-foot bays. 

Measurements shall be taken from 
center to center of timbers. 

Ceilings of mill construction hav¬ 
ing bays less than three (3) feet 
wide shall be treated as open joist 
-construction and sprinkler heads 
spaced accordingly. 

F—Under open joist construction, 
the lines shall be run at right angles 
to the joists and the sprinklers 
^‘staggered spaced,” so that the heads 
will be opposite a point half way be¬ 
tween sprinklers on adjacent lines, 
and the distance between sprinklers 
not exceeding eight (8) feet at right 
angles to the joist or ten (10) feet 
parallel with joists; the end heads 
on alternate lines being not more 
than two (2) feet from wall or par¬ 
tition. 

O—Under smooth finish, sheathed 
or plastered ceilings, in bays six (6) 
to twelve (12) feet wide (measure¬ 
ment to be taken from center to 
center of timber, girder or other pro¬ 
jection or support forming the bay), 
one line of sprinklers shall be placed 
in center of each bay, and distance 
between the sprinklers on each line 
shall not exceed the following: 

8 feet in 12-foot bays. 

9 “ “ 11 “ “ 

10 “ “ 6 to 10-foot bays. 

Bays in excess of twelve (12) feet 
in width and less than twenty-three 
(23) feet in width shall contain at 
least two (2). lines of sprinklers; 


bays twenty-three (23) feet in widtfc 
or over shall have the lines therein 
not over ten (10) feet apart. In 
bays in excess of twelve (12) feet 
in width, not more than one hundred 
(100) square feet ceiling area shall 
be allotted to any one sprinkler. 

H—Under a pitched roof sloping 
more steeply than one (1) foot in 
three (3), sprinklers shall be located 
in peak of roof, and those on either 
side of peak spaced according to the 
above requirements. Distance between 
sprinklers shall be measured on a line 
parallel with the roof. Where the 
roof meets the floor line, sprinklers 
shall be placed not over three and 
one-half (3%) feet from where roof 
timbers meet the floor. 

In sawtooth roof, the end sprinklers 
on the branch line shall be not over 
two and one-half (2 y 2 ) feet from the 
peak of the sawtooth. 

I—In no case shall the number of 
sprinklers on a given size pipe on one 
floor of one fire section exceed the 
following: 

Maximum 

Size of pipe Number Sprinklers 


% 

inch 

1 

1 

inch 

2 

1 % 

inch 

3 

1 Ys 

inch 

5 

2 

inch 

10 

2 % 

inch 

20 

3 

inch 

36 

3% 

inch 

55 

4 

inch 

80 

5 

inch 

140 

6 

inch 

200 


J—Every automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem shall be connected with an ade¬ 
quate water supply by pipe of suf¬ 
ficient size to protect the largest total 
floor area between division walls cov¬ 
ered by the system. 

K—All valves on connections to 
water supplies and in supply pipes to 
sprinklers shall be outside screw and 
yoke. 

L—Check valves shall be installed 
in all sources of supply. Each sys¬ 
tem shall be provided with a gate 
valve so located as to control all 
sources of water supply except that 
from Fire Department connections. 
A.11 gate valves controlling water sup¬ 
plies for sprinklers shall be located 
where readily accessible. 

M—All gate valves in supply pipes 
to automatic sprinklers, whether or 
not of indicator or post pattern, must 
be locked open with a strap and lock. 

N—All sprinkler pipes and fittings 
shall be so installed that they can 
be thoroughly drained. 

O—Each system shall be equipped 
with hose inlets located in a place 
which is accessible to firemen and at 
least four (4) feet from any non- 
fireproof opening into the sprinklered 
area. The inlets shall have capacity 
to supply the entire system except 
that there need not be more than two 
(2) two and one-half (2 y 2 ) inch in¬ 
lets for any part of the building be¬ 
tween division walls. 

P—Sprinklers shall be located in an 
upright position except where they 
are placed within three (3) inches of 
a ceiling which is entirely flat. 

Q—Every system shall be provided 
with a one-fourth 0,4) inch connec¬ 
tion for pressure gauge. Such con¬ 
nection shall be controlled by a valve 
and be on the system side of the 
main control valve. 







The Building Code 


69 


R—Except as otherwise provided, 
automatic sprinkler heads shall have 
a smooth one-half (%) inch opening 
and he so constructed as to open 
without fail at a temperature within 
twenty-five degrees (25*) Fahr. of 
that indicated on the head, which 
temperature shall be in accordance 
with the following requirements. 

S —The temperature conditions 
where sprinklers are to be installed 
shall be determined and the fusing 
point of sprinklers used shall not ex¬ 
ceed those indicated below: 

For ceiling temperatures of 100 
degrees or less, install 155 to 165 
degree heads. 

For ceiling temperatures exceed¬ 
ing 100 degrees but not 150 de¬ 
grees, install 212 degree heads. 
For ceiling temperatures exceed¬ 
ing 150 degrees but not 225 de¬ 
grees, install 286 degree heads. 
For ceiling temperatures in ex¬ 
cess of 225 degrees, install 360 
degree heads. 

T—Where the Superintendent of 
Buildings has reason to believe that 
an installation is defective, he shall 
require the same tested at a pressure 
of one and one-half (1%) times the 
normal pressure but not less than one 
hundred fifty (150) pounds per square 
inch. The test pressure shall be 
maintained for two (2) hours and any 
part of the system found defective 
shall be reconstructed. 


Section 511. Jumbo sprinkler sys¬ 
tems shall comply with the following 
paragraphs in the requirements for 
automatic sprinkler systems: 

A, C, D, L, O, P, S, T. 

The Jumbo sprinkler heads shall 
have one (1) inch smooth orifices 
and shall be so constructed as to 
open without fail at a temperature 
within twenty-five degrees (25°) Fahr., 
of that indicated on the head, which 
temperature shall be in accordance 
with the above requirements for 
sprinklers. 

Jumbo sprinkler heads shall not be 
assumed to protect more than four 
hundred (400) square feet of floor 
area, nor any portion of floor beyond 
a horizontal radius of fourteen (14) 
feet, ten (10) inches. 

A Jumbo sprinkler system need not 
be connected to a water supply of suf¬ 
ficient capacity to supply the entire 
system but must be connected to the 
water service which supplies the 
building in which the system is lo¬ 
cated. The connection must be of the 
same size as the service pipe. 

In no case shall the number of 
Jumbo sprinklers on a given size pipe 
on one floor of one fire section ex¬ 
ceed the following: 


Size of Pipe 
1 % inch 

1 % inch 

2 inch 
2*4 inch 

3 inch 

3 Vz inch 

4 inch 

5 inch 

6 inch 


Maximum Number 
of Sprinklers 
1 

2 

3 

5 

9 

14 

20 

35 

50 


Section 512. Every building four 
(4) stories or more in height above 
the lowest street or alley grade shall 
have at least one (1) galvanized 
wrought iron standpipe serving each 
undivided area, or in case no division 
wall is required, there shall be one 


for each twenty thousand (20,600) 
square feet, or fraction thereof. The 
above areas shall be taken at the 
fourth floor level. Each standpipe 
shall be situated not more than one 
(1) foot from the fire escape on ex¬ 
terior wall and shall extend from five 
(5) feet above the ground to and 
above the roof. At each floor and on 
the roof there shall be branches with 
good two and one-half (2*4) inch 
valves and National standard two and 
one-half (2%) inch male couplings 
and at the bottom an automatic Siam¬ 
ese inlet with female couplings of the 
same size and standard. Branches at 
each story shall be directed toward 
the nearest doors or windows. 

The dimensions of standpipes shall 
be as follows: Four (4) inches in 
diameter for four (4) story buildings, 
with a two (2) way inlet at the bot¬ 
tom. If a building is from five to 
ten stories in height, the portion of 
the standpipe on the four (4) upper 
stories shall be four (4) inches in 
diameter, and on the stories below 
five (5) inches in diameter, with a 
three (3) way inlet at the bottom. If 
a building is over ten (10) stories in 
height, the portion of the standpipe 
on the four (4) upper stories shall 
be four (4) inches in diameter; the 
portion on the six (6) stories im¬ 
mediately below them shall be five 
(5) inches in diameter, and on all the 
stories below the upper ten (10), the 
standpipe shall be six (6) inches in 
diameter, with a four (4) way inlet 
at the bottom. Each standpipe shall 
be fastened securely by bolts through 
the wall. 

Section 513. In every cellar, base¬ 
ment or sub-basement, the portion 
which is used for the storage of com¬ 
bustible materials, if separated from 
the rest of the basement by mill con¬ 
struction with fire doors, and if not 
so separated, then the entire base¬ 
ment, shall be provided with an auto¬ 
matic sprinkler system so constructed 
as to protect every square foot of 
floor area: Provided, that in such cel¬ 
lar, basement or sub-basement con¬ 
structed in the first or second build¬ 
ing districts prior to the time when 
the Building Code required it to be 
equipped with automatic sprinklers, 
or heretofore or hereafter constructed 
outside of the first and second build¬ 
ing districts, there may be installed 
in lieu of an automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem a Jumbo Sprinkler System. 

Further provided, that no sprinkler 
system shall be required in resi¬ 
dences; in buildings having a total 
basement or cellar area of less than 
two thousand five hundred (2500) 
square feet; in basements and cellars 
containing not more than three hun¬ 
dred (300) square feet of floor area 
which is used for the storage of com¬ 
bustible materials, if said space is 
enclosed with plastered partitions 
containing no openings into any other 
part of the building, except openings 
equipped with self-closing doors con¬ 
taining no glass other than wire 
glass; in one story buildings of ordi¬ 
nary masonry construction or better, 
which have a basement area of not 
to exceed seven thousand two hundred 
(7200) square feet, which contain no 
partitions, which are open on two (2) 
streets or a street and alley, and 
which have ceilings at least one-third 
(1/3) of the story height above the 






70 


The Building Code 


grade at windows on both sides, 
thereby giving access through which 
firemen can control fire in any part of 
the basement; in basement rooms 
which are separated from unsprink- 
lered rooms by mill partitions con¬ 
taining no openings equipped with fire 
doors and which are entirely within 
a radius of forty (40) feet from win¬ 
dows fronting on streets, alleys or ex¬ 
terior courts, not less than sixteen 
(16) feet wide, which windows shall 
be located where the ceiling is at 
least one-third of the story height 
above grade. 

Section 514. Every building five 

(5) stories or more in height which 
is used as a warehouse, factory, work¬ 
shop, garage or store shall be equip¬ 
ped throughout with an automatic 
sprinkler system. 

Section 515. All fire doors, except 
those on passenger elevators and on 
exterior openings, shall be either self¬ 
closing or automatic, and shall be so 
constructed, hung and equipped that 
they will close without fail when re¬ 
leased and will fit tightly at top, 
sides and bottom, so as to prevent 
the spread of fire through the door 
opening. 

Fire doors are hereby divided into 
three classes, namely, A, B and C. 

Class A fire doors may be installed 
in lieu of Class B and C doors, while 
Class B fire doors may be substituted 
for Class C doors. 

Any style of fire door which is not 
hereinafter described but which has 
been found by scientifically conducted 
tests to be capable of resisting fire as 
effectively as the doors described un¬ 
der a certain class, shall be approved 
as equivalent to said class. 

No vertically acting fire doors ex¬ 
cept rolling steel doors and doors 
constructed and equipped so that half 
of the door slides up while the other 
half slides down, the one being coun¬ 
terbalanced by the other, shall be per¬ 
mitted on openings in excess of fif¬ 
teen (15) square feet. 

No sliding fire doors having widths 
in excess of three (3) feet shall be 
hung in pairs so that the doors strike 
each other in closing. 

Swinging fire doors shall not be 
used on openings in excess of six 

(6) feet wide and twelve (12) feet in 
height, except that where hung in 
pairs the opening may be ten (10) 
feet wide and twelve (12) feet in 
height. 

Sliding fire doors shall be mounted 
on a heavy track inclined from % 
inch to one inch per foot. Wall bolts 
shall be so spaced that one bolt will 
be located directly opposite each 
hanger when the door is clpsed and 
so that front and back pumpers can 
be attached; bolts for track, binders 
and stay rolls shall be three-fourths 
(%) inch in diameter, extend through 
the wall and be provided with ade¬ 
quate washers on the opposite side of 
the wall. Sliding doors shall extend 
four (4) inches beyond the opening 
at the sides and top and when closed 
shall fit close at bottom upon the sill, 
which must be of masonry or steel if 
the wall is masonry. 

Swinging Class “A” fire doors shall 
be provided with strong wrought iron 
hinges bolted through doors and 
either bolted through walls or se¬ 
curely fastened to a steel wall frame. 
They shall either extend four (4) 


inches over the masonry at sides and 
tops of the openings or close into a 
two (2) inch rabbet at top and sides. 

Swinging Class “B” fire doors shall 
be hung on hinges as required for 
Class “A” fire doors or shall be hung 
on hinges which are fastened to 
doors and jambs by screws not less 
than one and one-half (1%) inches 
long, which must be screwed into 
place and not driven: Provided, that 
no hinges shall be fastened with 
screws which are set parallel to the 
fibres of the timber. ' 

All swinging doors shall be pro¬ 
vided with hardware which will pre¬ 
vent rebound when the door is slam¬ 
med. 

When fire doors are placed in ma¬ 
sonry walls or partitions, none of the 
wood framing around the door open¬ 
ing shall be permitted to extend into 
the masonry. Where fire doors are 
permitted to be hung to wood jambs 
set in the openings in fireproof walls 
or partitions, the jambs must be 
bolted either to the wall or to a steel 
frame set in the wall. The jambs 
must have all exposed surfaces and 
all parts of the jamb within one (1) 
inch of any exposed edge covered 
with sheet metal. There shall be no 
space left between jambs and the wall 
or partition in which the door is 
placed. 

Unplastered wood division walls 
shall have the wood work around the 
door openings covered with sheet 
metal back to a distance of eight (8) 
inches from the opening. Other un¬ 
plastered wood walls and partitions 
which are required to have the open¬ 
ings equipped with fire doors shall 
be covered with metal a distance of 
four (4) inches back from the open¬ 
ing. Wherever fire doors are required 
on openings, any wood framing in 
the opening shall be covered with 
metal where exposed. 

Section 516. Fire doors constructed 
in accordance with the following 
specifications for tin clad fire doors, 
rolling steel fire doors, hollow metal 
doors or solid steel doors shall be 
known as Class “A” fire doors. 

1. Tin clad fire doors shall be con¬ 
structed of kiln dried tongued and 
grooved fir or cedar lumber, free from 
sap wood, dry rot and knots, except 
that sound, tight knots less than one- 
fourth (%) inch in diameter will be 
permitted. The lumber shall not be 
less than three-fourths (%) inch nor 
more than seven-eights (%) inch, 
thick, nor shall it be less than three 
(3) inches nor more than eight (8) 
inches in width. 

The boards in both outside layers 
of 3-ply doors and in one layer of 
2-ply doors shall be placed vertically, 
while in the other layer they shall 
be placed horizontally. 

All layers shall be thoroughly 
nailed together with cut nails of the 
clinch type, which shall be three (3) 
inches long for 3-ply and two (2) 
inches long for 2-ply doors, having 
their points turned back and thor¬ 
oughly clinched in the face of the 
core. All rows of nails shall be 
placed one (1) inch from each edge 
of each horizontal and vertical board 
in each layer when the boards are 
from four and one-half (4%) to eight 
(8) inches width, and shall be on the 
center line of three (3) and four (4) 
inch boards. The spacing of '^|»41s in 
both horizontal and vertiegtl rows 




The Building Code 


71 


shall not exceed twice the width of 
four and one-half (4 V 2 ) to sight (8) 
inch boards nor five times the width 
of three (3) and four (4) inch boards. 
A row of nails shall be placed within 
one and one-half ( iy 2 ) inches from 
the edge of the core and spaced so 
that there will be a nail in the center 
of the end of each board. Not more 
than two (2) pieces shall be used in 
any one continuous strip in either 
outside layer, nor more than three 
(3) pieces in the middle layer, while 
at least every other strip in outside 
layers shall be full length boards. 
The top edge of sliding doors shall 
be cut on a slope so as to be parallel 
with the track. 

The cores shall be covered with 
sheets of tin not larger than fourteen 
(14) inches by twenty (20) inches, 
which tin shall be Terne Plate of 
basic open hearth steel of a thickness 
weighing not less than one hundred 
three (103) pounds net per box of one 
hundred twelve (112) sheets, exclus¬ 
ive of the coating. The coating shall 
be of an alloy composed of not less 
than twenty-five (25) per cent, tin 
and not more than seventy-five (75) 
per cent, lead, and shall be applied so 
as to weigh not less than ten (10) 
pounds per box of one hundred twelve 
(112) sheets. 

Sheets shall be joined with under¬ 
writers lock joints and nailed to the 
core with No. 12, No. 12y 2 or 1 No. 13 
gauge quarter-barbed or full-barbed 
wire nails with flat heads, and left 
unsoldered. The nails shall be driven 
inside the lap, and joints shall be 
hammered down over the nail heads. 

Tin clad doors larger than eighty 
(80) square feet, and those on ma¬ 
sonry division wall openings shall be 
3-ply doors. On other openings they 
may be 2-ply doors. 

2. Rolling steel fire doors shall be 
constructed of interlocking slats made 
of galvanized steel not lighter than 
No. 16 gauge. The sides of the doors 
shall run in a slot and the doors 
shall fit tightly against the wall at 
the top and the sill at the bottom. 
They shall be hung on a winding 
shaft and shall have helical springs 
of sufficient strength to properly bal¬ 
ance the door at any time. The coils 
shall be covered with a hood made of 
galvanized iron of No. 24 gauge, or 
heavier, which shall be securely fas¬ 
tened to the wall and so constructed 
and fitted to prevent the transmission 
of fire. Rolling steel fire doors, if 
placed on exits, shall be constructed 
so that they can be easily raised, 
without readjustment, by one person 
after they have closed automatically. 

3. Hollow metal doors shall be con¬ 
structed of two (2) thicknesses of 
sheet metal not lighter than No. 18 
gauge. The stiles and rails shall be 
securely welded together at the in¬ 
tersection, and shall be not less than 
one and three-fourths (1%) inches 
thick. The panels shall be made of 
two (2) thicknesses of steel not 
lighter than No. 20 gauge, with at 
least one-quarter ( x /4) inch asbestos 
between. The sheets of steel forming 
the panels shall be securely fastened 
together. Heavy steel plates shall be 
welded to the various members for 
the purpose of attaching butts, locks, 
etc. 

4. Solid steel doors shall be con¬ 
structed of sheet steel not lighter 
than No. 14 gauge securely fastened 
to a frame of 2"x2"x 1 A" angles placed 


not farther apart than twenty-four 
(24) inches horizintally and thirty- 
six (36) inches vertically. 

Fire doors constructed and equip¬ 
ped in accordance with any of the 
following specifications shall be 
know as Class “B” fire doors: 

1. Rolling steel fire doors as spec¬ 
ified for Class “A” doors, except that 
the metal may be No. 20 gauge for 
interior openings and No. 22 gauge 
for exterior openings. 

2. Kalamein doors which shall be 
constructed of kiln-dried lumber, 
free from sap wood, dry rot and 
knots, except that sound, tight knots 
less than one-fourth (*4) inch in 
diameter will be permitted. The wood 
surfaces of stiles, rails and panels 
shall be entirely covered with metal 
not thinner than No. 26 gauge for 
plain surfaces and No. 28 gauge for 
moldings. The metal and wood shall 
be brought tightly together by draw¬ 
ing same through steel dies which 
press a clincher edge of the metal in¬ 
to the wood. Kalamein panels shall 
have a wood core, not thinner than 
one-half (y 2 ) inch, and shall be not 
larger than seven hundred twenty 
(720) square inches. The metal shall 
be cemented to the core of the panel 
under heavy pressure with fireproof 
cement. The rails of doors shall be 
tenoned into mortice stile of doors 
two-thirds (2/3) the width of the 
stile and three-fifths (3/5) the width 
of the rail, and shall be well glued 
and shall have steel dowels in all 
tenons. Panels shall extend into 
grooves of rails not less than five- 
eights (5/8) of an inch. Moldings 
shall have the metal attached to the 
wood by clincher edges. Moldings 
shall be attached to doors with nails 
or screws. Panels of quarter-inch 
wire glass shall be permitted if se¬ 
curely fastened and if not larger than 
seven hundred twenty (720) square 
inches. 

Doors constructed in accordance 
with the following specifications shall 
be known as Class “C” fire doors: 
Metal covered Class “C” doors shall 
be constructed of two (2) thicknesses 
of kiln-dried tongued and grooved fir 
or cedar lumber, free from sap wood, 
dry rot and knots, except that sound, 
tight knots less than one-quarter (*4) 
inch in diameter will be permitted, 
and not less than three-quarter (%) 
inch thick. One layer shall be placed 
vertically and the other horizontally. 
This core shall be covered with tin 
or galvanized iron on each side. The 
sheet metal shall be either lock joint¬ 
ed or be composed of one sheet on 
each side. The sheets shall lap so as 
to give two (2) thicknesses of metal 
on all the edges of the door and shall 
be nailed on the edges with large 
headed nails not shorter than two (2) 
inches, and spaced not more than four 
(4) inches apart. The metal shall also 
be nailed on both faces of the door 
at intervals of not over twelve (12) 
inches in each direction. 

Section 517. Except as otherwise 
provided, fire doors herein required 
for various locations shall be of the 
class indicated below, or better. 

Class “A” doors shall be used for: 
Openings in division walls and open¬ 
ings between garages and other oc¬ 
cupancies, as required by Section 937. 

Class “B” fire doors shall be used 
where Class “A” doors are not re¬ 
quired and where Class “C” or other 
doors are not permitted; provided 






72 


The Building Code 


that Class "A” doors may be used 
wherever Class “B” doors are re¬ 
quired. 

Nothing in this Code shall be con¬ 
strued to prohibit the installation of 
passenger elevator doors constructed 
of wire glass set in cast iron or 
bronze frames. 

Class “C” fire doors may be used 
where fire doors are required in frame 
buildings not over two (2) stories high 
and in ordinary masonry buildings 
not over one (1) story high, except 
that they shall not be used on division 
walls. 

Section 518. Fire windows shall 
be constructed of metal frames and 
metal sash, glazed with % inch wire 
glass. The metal frames shall not 
exceed 7 feet by 12 feet in dimensions 
and no glass shall be larger than 
seven hundred twenty (720) square 
inches between supports nor exceed 
fifty-four (54) inches in greatest 
dimension. 

All chains and hardware shall be 
wrought iron or steel and all hollow 
sills shall be filled with concrete. Hol¬ 
low metal frames and sash shall be 
made from galvanized sheet iron or 
steel not lighter than No. 24 gauge, 
or of copper not lighter than No. 20 
gauge, and shall be securely fastened 
together at all intersections by suffi¬ 
cient rivets to make the frame rigid 
without depending upon solder. 

The grooves for glass in hollow 
metal sash shall be not less than 
three-fourths (%) inch deep while 
the glass shall be of such size as to 
enter the groove not less than five- 
eights (5/8) inch. The groove shall 
be well filled with putty on both 
sides of the glass. 

Solid metal sash shall have the 
glass fastened with angle clips and 
putty. 

Section 520. Wherever plastering 
is required by this Code, it shall com¬ 
ply with that portion of the following 
provisions applying to the type of 
plastering called for: 

Grounds for wood lath and plaster 
shall be not less than three-fourths 
(%) inch thick and for metal lath 
not less than five-eighths (%) inch 
thick. 

Wood lath shall not be less than 
one-fourth (M) inch thick nor more 
than one and one-half (1%) inches 
wide. 

The key space between the lath 
shall be not less than one-fourth ( J A) 
mch where gypsum plaster is to be 
used and not less than three-eights 
(%) inch where lime plaster is to be 
used. The joints formed at the ends 
of the lath shall be broken every 
tenth lath or closer. 

Furring or studs to which the wood 
lath are nailed shall be spaced not 
farther apart than sixteen (16) 
inches. 


Plasterboard shall not be less than 
one-fourth (^4) inch thick and shall 
be composed of a hard plaster core 
placed between sheets of heavy paper 
and thoroughly bonded thereto. It 
shall be nailed at intervals of four 
(4) inches or less along lines not 
farther apart than sixteen (16) inches. 
Nails shall be not less than one and 
one-eighth (1%) inches long with 
heads not less than five-sixteenths 
(5/16) inch in diameter. 

Metal lath shall be adequately sup¬ 
ported at intervals sufficiently close 
to prevent sagging and shall not 
weigh less than two and one-fourth 
(2%) pounds per square yard. 

The materials and proportions used 
in the mixing of plaster shall be such 
as to produce a hard, durable plaster 
which shall be applied in a workman¬ 
like manner. The thickness from lath 
or plaster board to the finished sur¬ 
face of the plaster shall in no place 
be less than three-eights (%) inch. 

Any required plastering which 
when completed does not comply with 
the requirements of this Code shall 
be removed and properly replaced be¬ 
fore the building or portion thereof 
in which the plastering is required 
may be occupied. 

Whenever any buliamg ts ready to 
lath, the owner or his representative 
shall notify the office of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings of such fact, 
giving the number of the building 
permit and the street number of the 
building, and it shall be the duty of 
the Superintendent of Buildings, as 
soon as possible thereafter, to inspect 
the said building and ascertain 
whether or not fire stops, bridging, 
chimneys, fire places, etc., which will 
be concealed by the lath and plaster, 
have been constructed in accordance 
with the provisions of this Code. No 
lathing shall be done until the build¬ 
ing or portion thereof which is to be 
lathed shall have been inspected and 
approved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Section 521. Except in residences 
and apartment houses containing not 
more than two (2) apartments, all 
furnaces and boilers used for gener¬ 
ating heat or power must be enclosed 
with the construction required here¬ 
after in this section: Provided, how¬ 
ever, that enclosures specified in any 
class of buildings may be used in 
buildings of a lower classification. 

Fireproof buildings shall have ma¬ 
sonry enclosures, the walls of which, 
if constructed of brick, bearing wall 
tile or unreinforced concrete, shall 
not be less than six (6) inches thick, 
and if of partition tile, not less than 
eight (8) inches thick. 

Mill buildings shall have their en¬ 
closures constructed with walls of 
double two by six (2x6) tongued and 


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The Building Code 


73 


grooved lumber placed vertically 
breaking joints, provided that if the 
floor of the furnace or boiler room ia 
laid on the ground, the enclosing 
walls must be of masonry construc¬ 
tion as required above for enclosures 
in fireproof buildings. The ceiling 
may be of the same construction as 
the double planked walls or may be 
of three (3) inch tongued and grooved 
lumber having finish floor above, or 
may be of laminated mill construc¬ 
tion. The floor must be of fireproof 
construction or of mill construction 
thoroughly protected from moisture 
and covered with not less than three 
(3) inches of masonry. All combus¬ 
tible walls and ceilings must be plas¬ 
tered on the inside of the boiler room, 
using metal lath or plasterboard on 
the ceiling if it be laminated. 

Ordinary masonry buildings over 
one story high and frame buildings 
over two stories high shall have their 
enclosures constructed as required for 
mill buildings, except that masonry 
walls are not required and concrete 
finish floors may be laid on a joist 
constructed floor after thoroughly 
protecting it from moisture. 

Frame buildings not over two 
stories in height and ordinary ma¬ 
sonry buildings not over one story in 
height shall have their enclosing 
walls constructed as required for mill 
partitions. The ceilings shall be mill 
construction or be of joist construc¬ 
tion sealed on the under side with 
two by six (2x6) tongued and grooved 
lumber. Non-fireproof walls and ceil¬ 
ings must be plastered on the inside. 
Floors must be of masonry or of 
wood construction thoroughly water¬ 
proofed on top and covered with 
three (3) inches of masonry. 

All openings in furnace or boiler 
enclosures shall be equipped with fire 
doors or fixed fireproof windows, ex¬ 
cept that exterior openings need not 
be fireproof unless they open on to a 
court or shaft or are required to be 
fireproofed by other parts of this 
Code. 

Section 522. All rooms used for 
the smoking of fish or meat shall have 
fireproof walls with all doors fire¬ 
proof or incombustible. The roof 
must be incombustible or fireproof. 
The grillage, tracks, etc., within a 
smoke room must be incombustible. 
A guard must be provided to prevent 
the fish or meat from falling upon 
the fire. 

Section 523. Every dry room, ex¬ 
cept lumber dry kilns, in which a tem¬ 
perature of one hundred degrees 
(100°) Fahr. or more is maintained, 
shall be enclosed with fireproof or 
plastered mill construction or shall be 
enclosed with single two by six (2x6) 
inch tongued and grooved walls and 
ceiling covered on the inside with 
one-fourth (*4) inch asbestos cement 
board, asbestos or plasterboard and 
with sheet metal lock jointed or lap¬ 
ped one and one-half (IV 2 ) inches. 
The doors shall be of equivalent con¬ 
struction with all jambs metal cov¬ 
ered or shall be fire doors. The floors 
shall be covered with concrete, or be 
of wood not less than two (2) inches 
thick covered with one-fourth (*4) 
inch asbestos cement board and sheet 
metal. Such dry room or enclosure 
shall have wire netting of not more 
than one (1) inch mesh, so placed as 


to prevent any contact between com¬ 
bustible materials and the steam or 
heating pipes, stoves or other heaters. 

Every lumber dry kiln shall have 
in each compartment thereof scuttles 
of a cross-sectional area of not less 
than four (4) square feet, placed not 
over thirty (30) feet apart, and con¬ 
structed so that they may be opened 
from the outside by firemen. 

In order to provide for the escape 
of gas in case of fire, there shall be 
a scuttle not less than three (3) feet 
no (0) inches square in the center 
of the roof of each compartment of 
every shingle dry kiln. Where the 
compartments are over forty (40) 
feet, no (0) inches in length, there 
shall be additional scuttles one (1) 
foot square for the entrance of fire 
hose, and so located that there will 
be not more than twenty (20) feet, 
no (0) inches, between any two scut¬ 
tles, nor between either end of the 
kiln and the scuttle nearest it. The 
covers of said scuttles shall be so 
constructed that they can be readily 
opened from without. 

Where vaults are required for the 
containing of combustible refuse or 
packing material, they shall be con¬ 
structed as required above for dry 
rooms, except that plastered surfaces 
must be covered with metal. 

All openings to such vault shall be 
fireproof openings. 

Fire doors required by this section 
may be Class “C" doors. 

Section 527. Except as otherwise 
provided, all chimneys shall be built 
of brick, stone, concrete or concrete 
chimney blocks, laid in lime and ce¬ 
ment mortar; shall have all joints en¬ 
tirely filled with mortar; shall have 
walls not less than four (4) inches 
thick if lined with flue lining, and 
not less than six (6) inches thick if 
unlined. 

Unless used exclusively for fire¬ 
places, chimneys having an inside 
cross-sectional area in excess of one 
hundred fifty (150) square inches 
shall have walls not less than eight 
(8) inches thick. Chimneys having 
an inside cross-sectional area in ex¬ 
cess of six hundred (600) square 
inches shall have walls not less than 
twelve (12) inches thick for the first 
twenty-five (25) feet, and eight (8) 
inches above. 

Section 528. All chimneys having- 
four hundred (400) or more square 
inches of cross-sectional area shall 
be lined with fire brick laid in fire 
clay at least two (2) feet below and 
six (6) feet above the entrance of any 
smokepipe. 

Section 529. Concrete chimney 
blocks shall be made of good gravel 
or clinker concrete with rabbetted 
horizontal joints; shall have no ver¬ 
tical joints and be not larger than 
eight (8) by eight (8) inches inside 
measurement. 

Section 530. No chimney flue shall 
have less than one (1) square inch 
of cross-sectional area to each one 
and one-half (1%)) square inches of 
cross-sectional area of the smoke- 
pipes entering it. 

Section 531. Unless supported 
directly on the ground all chimneys 
in buildings shall be supported on 
horizontal structural members or on 
posts not less than four (4) inches 
in least dimension, which in turn 





74 


The Building Code 


shall be supported by horizontal 
structural members of the building, or 
by a masonry foundation. In no case 
shall chimneys be constructed on 
brackets. 

Chimneys resting directly on wood 
shall have at least three (3) courses 
of solid brickwork at the bottom. 

No chimney shall be supported at 
any place except at its base nor shall 
it be constructed in any way that 
would cause the joints to open in case 
of settlement. 

Section 532. All beams, joists, 
headers, studs or other wood framing 
shall be kept at least one and one- 
half (1%) inches clear of chimneys, 
and when a chimney extends through 
a floor or ceiling the space between 
the wood framing and the chimney 
shall be filled solid with mortar or 
other incombustible material resting 
on a course of brick set out one (1) 
inch to hold it in place, or the space 
shall be covered with metal to pre¬ 
vent the passage of fire through the 
floor or ceiling; provided, however, 
that where chimneys are constructed 
two (2) inches thicker than called 
for by this Code the space between 
the chimney and wood framing need 
not exceed one-half (V 2 ) inch. 

Section 533. Thimbles for smoke 
pipes from heating stoves and kitchen 
ranges shall be not less than six (6) 
inches from any plastered wood par¬ 
tition or wall, nor less than twelve 
(12) inches from any plastered wood 
ceiling, nor less than eighteen (18) 
inches from any unplastered wood 
wall, partition or ceiling. 

The chimney shall be corbelled out 
to the face of the sheathing or lath¬ 
ing for a distance of at least four 
(4) inches from the thimble; pro¬ 
vided, however, that the masonry 
may be left one-half ( V 2 ) inch back 
from the face of the studding or fur¬ 
ring if metal lath instead of wood 
lath is placed in front of the corbel, 
and if the metal lath is kept one ^nd 
one-half (1%) inches clear of the 
thimble. Where the chimney is con¬ 
structed of brick, the top and bot¬ 
tom courses of the corbel shall be 
composed entirely of headers. 

Section 534. In racking over chim¬ 
neys, no course of brick shall be off¬ 
set more than one-half (y 2 ) inch, and 
no racking shall be made so that the 
unsupported overhang shall be mor 
than one-third (1/3) of the base of 
the chimney. No nails shall be 
driven into any chimney. 

No masonry chimney, or part 
thereof, shall be constructed in an in¬ 
clined or horizontal position. This 
shall not be considered, however, to 
prohibit the construction of masonry 
breechings. 

Section 535. Except on fireproof 
buildings, chimneys shall be built to 
a height of not less than two (2) 
feet above the ridge of the roof if 
they penetrate same, or not less than 
three (3) feet above a flat or pitch 
roof, measuring from the high side 
of the roof. Furthermore, chimneys 
must be constructed as high as any 
part of the building within a twelve 
(12) foot horizontal radius of the 
chimney, and two (2) feet higher 
than any part of the building within 
a five (5) foot horizontal radius of 
the chimney. 

Chimneys extending over five (5) 


times their least dimension above the 
roof must be designed to withstand 
a wind pressure of twenty-five (25) 
pounds per square foot. 

Sheet metal extensions to chimneys 
of the required height may be in¬ 
stalled if built of approved gauge 
metal substantially guyed and de¬ 
signed to withstand a wind pressure 
of twenty-five (25) pounds per square 
foot. 

Section 538. When buildings which 
are constructed above the water on 
piles or on floats, are swayed by tides, 
waves or vessels to such an extent 
that the movement would injure ma¬ 
sonry chimneys, such chimneys shall 
not be installed. Metal chimneys 
commonly known as smokestacks may 
be used instead of masonry if con¬ 
structed as hereinafter specified. 
Metal chimneys may also be used in 
tents, or in any one-story buildings 
in the Fourth Building District, if 
the buildings contain no attic or fin¬ 
ish on the under side of the rafters, 
and has a floor area of not to exceed 
five hundred (500) square feet. 

Metal chimneys installed in build- 
' ings which are permitted by this sec¬ 
tion to contain them shall not be 
larger than seven (7) inches inside 
diameter, unless the metal chimneys 
and the buildings containing them 
conform to the hereinafter require¬ 
ments pertaining to metal chimneys 
of larger diameter. Metal chimneys 
permitted by this section and not ex¬ 
tending through any attic space or 
story shall be constructed from a dis¬ 
tance of eighteen (18) inches below 
the rafters to a height of at least 
eighteen (18) inches above the roof 
of two (2) galvanized iron pipes not 
thinner than No. 24 gauge with a two 
(2) inch air space between. The air 
space shall be vented at top and bot¬ 
tom to provide for the passage of air 
or shall be filled with corrugated as¬ 
bestos. The opening for ventilation 
shall be equal to at least half the 
cross-sectional area between the 
pipes. The openings in the top shall 
be protected from rains. The outer 
pipe shall be kept at least four (4) 
inches from any wood or other com¬ 
bustible material. The pipes shall be 
made with grooved or riveted seams 
and the joints shall be riveted to¬ 
gether. 

Metal chimneys permitted by this 
section and extending through an at¬ 
tic or story shall be constructed as 
above, except that there shall be not 
less than four (4) inches between the 
two pipes which must extend from 
eighteen (18) inches below the low¬ 
est ceiling through which they pass 
to not less than eighteen (18) inches 
above the roof. However, the outer 
pipe may be Within two (2) inches of 
wood construction, but not nearer. 

Section 539. Metal smokestacks of 
any size may be used from boilers or 
furnaces which are so located that 
the stack goes through no partitions, 
floors or attic, but only through the 
roof. In such cases the stack shall be 
kept clear of all combustible material 
by a distance equal to the diameter 
of the stack but in no case less than 
twelve (12) inches. However, the dis¬ 
tance need not exceed thirty (30) 
inches. Provided, further, that metal 
smokestacks may be used in any 
building if the stack is enclosed with 
fireproof walls not less than six (6) 







The Building Code 


75 


inches thick which shall be kept at 
least six (6) inches clear of the metal 
stack. They may also be used in con¬ 
nection with a building if located out¬ 
side of the building and supported 
directly on masonry. The metal stack 
must, however, be kept as far from 
combustible material as required by 
this section. However, no metal smoke 
pipe may pass through any outside 
wall or window, but the smoke may 
be carried outside of the building by 
means of a masonry breeching. 

Section 540. Cupolas as ordinarily 
constructed of steel with fire brick 
lining and used for melting of iron or 
other metal, must be kept eighteen 
(18) inches from any woodwork. 

The chimneys of cupolas must ex¬ 
tend ten (10) feet above any com¬ 
bustible roof within fifty (50) feet. 

Other devices used for heating or 
treating of metals must be kept a 
sufficient distance from combustible 
materials to eliminate danger of fire. 

Section 542. AH chimneys in party 
walls shall be separated by at least 
four (4) inches of masonry through¬ 
out the entire length, and any such 
chimney shall have openings for 
smoke pipes upon one side only. 

Section 543. No metal smoke pipe 
shall pass through a floor, attic or 
concealed space. Where a smoke pipe 
passes through a clothes closet or 
other space where combustible ma¬ 
terial may come in contact with it, 
the pipe passing through such space 
must be a double galvanized iron pipe 
with riveted or locked joints and hav¬ 
ing an inch thickness of corrugated 
asbestos between the pipes. The 
double pipe shall not be more than 
eight (8) feet long and shall extend 
through the wall of the chimney. 

Section 544s In all cases where 
smoke pipes pass through stud or 
wood partitions of any kind, whether 
the same be plastered or not, they 
shall be surrounded by masonry not 
less than four (4) inches in thick¬ 
ness, or by solid plaster four (4) 
inches thick, or by a double metal col¬ 
lar with air chambers not less than 
three (3) inches and perforated for 
the passage of air, and when such 
partition is of uncovered wood, it 
shall be further protected by a sheet 
of metal on each side five (5) times 
the diameter of the pipe. 

Section 545. Except as provided 
for heating stoves and kitchen ranges, 
no smoke pipe shall be less than 
twelve (12) inches from any plastered 
wood wall, partition or ceiling which 
is parallel to the smoke pipe, nor 
shall it be closer to said surface than 
a distance equal to the diameter of 
the pipe. If the wall, partition or 


ceiling is of unplastered wood, the 
pipe shall not be closer than twenty- 
four (24) inches nor a distance of 
one and one-half (IY 2 ) times the 
diameter of the pipe. If a sheet of 
metal not lighter than No. 20 gauge 
is nailed to an unplastered wood par¬ 
tition or ceiling in such a way that 
a two (2) inch air space between the 
sheet metal and the wood will be pro¬ 
vided at all points within a distance 
of two (2) feet from the smoke pipe, 
but in no case less than a distance 
equal to one and one-half (1 y 2 ) times 
its diameter, the protection shall be 
considered as equivalent to lath and 
plaster. The sheet metal shall be 
attached in such a way that the air 
will circulate freely in the two (2) 
inch space behind it. Where sheet 
metal is attached to plastered wood 
walls, partitions or ceilings in ac¬ 
cordance with the above requirements, 
the distance between the smoke pipe 
and the plastered wood surface may 
be decreased twenty-five (25) per 
cent. 

Section 546. Except as otherwise 
herein provided, all ducts used for 
the conveying of hot air or for venti¬ 
lating purposes, shall be constructed 
as required for fireproof or incombus¬ 
tible partitions, or shall be of sheet 
metal with lock jointed or riveted 
seams and joints. Where such ducts 
extend from story to story they shall 
be placed in partitions or enclosed by 
partitions. The combustible material 
of such partitions and floors through 
which the ducts pass shall be kept at 
least three (3) inches from the ducts 
or be protected by not less than three- 
eights (%) inch of plaster or one- 
quarter (Vi) inch of asbestos or plas¬ 
ter board. 

The above provisions of this sec¬ 
tion, except as to the materials of 
which the ducts shall be constructed, 
shall not apply to residences. 

Openings between any ducts and 
the floor construction surrounding 
them shall be filled with mortar or 
other incombustible material to pre¬ 
vent the passage of fire. 

Section 547. When only one regis¬ 
ter is connected with the furnace 
there shall be no dampers or other 
devices in the duct for stopping the 
circulation of hot air. 

Where hot air furnaces are used 
for heating, no grillage or register 
constructed of wood shall be used at 
the opening of hot air ducts unless 
the register is more than ten (10) 
feet from the furnace and no combus¬ 
tible material shall be within three 
(3) inches of that part of the duct 
which is within ten (10) feet of the 
furnace, unless the combustible ma¬ 
terial is protected as required when 


TILE—MARBLE—TERRAZZO 

FIREPLACES—DAMPERS 

Robinson Tile & Supply Co. 

217-219 Marion Street EL iot 4491 








76 


The Building Code 


sheet metal ducts are enclosed in par¬ 
titions. 

Section 548. Every fireplace shall 
have a hearth extending at least 
eighteen (18) inches from the face of 
the mantel and at least fifteen (15) 
inches on either side of the fireplace 
opening. The hearth shall rest upon 
the masonry of the fireplace on at 
least one side but may be partially 
supported by the floor construction of 
the building. The hearth shall be not 
less than eight (8) inches thick where 
it joins the fireplace and not less than 
four (4) inches thick at the side 
farthest from the fireplace. The 
wooden forms under the hearth must 
be removed before the fireplace is 
used. 

The masonry behind the jambs 
shall be corbelled out to the face of 
the mantel to support same. The 
corbel shall not project more than 
two (2) inches for each three (3) 
inches of height. The masonry above 
the fireplace opening and throat shall 
be supported on steel angles or other 
metal supports of adequate strength 
and having at least a four (4) inch 
bearing on each end. 

If the face of the fireplace is so 
constructed as to provide for a man¬ 
tel which is not bonded to the fire¬ 
place with headers, then a masonry 
tongue at least two by two (2x2) 
inches extending along the entire 
front of the masonry above the fire¬ 
place opening shall be left for the 
purpose of preventing the passage of 
fire and smoke between the mantel 
and the rough face of the fireplace, 
also there shall be provided galvan¬ 
ized corrugated metal ties for anchor¬ 
ing the brick mantel. They shall be 
placed not farther apart than every 
third course. 

The back of the fireplace shall be 
not less than seven (7) inches thick 
if on the outside of a building, and 
not less than eleven (11) inches thick 
if within a building. 

Section 549. Brick set ranges, 
candy kettles or similar equipment in 
which heat is generated, shall not be 
set on any combustible floor, but must 
be kept at least six (6) inches clear 
thereof and open on two> (2) sides to 
allow for circulation of air, and the 
space thereunder shall be covered 
with two (2) inches of masonry. 
They shall also be kept at least 
twelve (12) inches from combustible 
material on any side thereof. Brick 
set ranges or similar devices where 
coals of fire may fall upon the floor, 
shall have the combustible floor in 
front thereof covered with sheet 
metal, masonry or other incombusti¬ 
ble material for a distance of three 
(3) feet out from the range. 

Section 550. All cooking devices 


such as stoves, ranges, gas or elec¬ 
tric plates which are used to cook 
for thirty (30) or more persons dur¬ 
ing a period of twenty-four (24) 
hours and which are likely to produce 
grease fumes, shall be provided with 
a metal hood extending over the en¬ 
tire surface used for cooking. 

The hood shall be constructed of 
sheet metal not lighter than No. 22 
gauge fastened to a rigid metal frame 
and shall have its sides extend to 
within seven (7) feet or less of the 
floor. The top and sides shall be kept 
at least twelve (12) inches from any 
plastered wood work and eighteen 
(18) inches from any unplastered 
wood work. The hood shall be con¬ 
nected by a ventilating duct to a ma¬ 
sonry chimney or to a metal duct 
outside the building provided no 
smoke flue shall enter either. The 
metal ventilating duct shall be con¬ 
structed of galvanized sheet metal not 
lighter than No. 22 gauge if its cross- 
sectional area does not exceed 260 
square inches, and of galvanized 
sheet metal not lighter than No. 20 
gauge if the cross-sectional area ex¬ 
ceeds 260 square inches. They shall 
have grooved seams or be lapped one 
and one-half (l 1 ^) inches and riv¬ 
eted with two (2) rows of rivets stag¬ 
gered two (2) inches or less apart. 

The different sections of the duct 
shall be fastened together with rivets 
spaced not farther apart than two (2) 
inches or they shall be riveted to one 
by one by one and one-eight (lxlx 
1 Ys) inch angles with rivets not 
farther apart than two (2) inches and 
the angles on the connecting ends of 
sections shall be fastened together 
with one-fourth ( x /4) inch bolts not 
farther apart than two (2) inches. 
The duct shall be kept at least twelve 
(12) inches from any plastered wood 
work and at least eighteen (18) inches 
from any unplastered wood work. No 
such ducts shall pass through any 
floor or ceiling nor through any wall 
or partition separating two (2) ten¬ 
ants nor through any frame exterior 
wall. No such metal duct shall be 
carried up the outside of any frame 
wall but may be carried through and 
up the outside of a masonry wall 
provided they shall be kept at least 
twelve (12) feet above the alley 
grade. When supported on the ex¬ 
terior walls of a masonry building, 
ducts shall be fastened to the wall 
every ten (10) feet or closer, by metal 
bands not lighter than one-quarter by 
one and one-half (&xiy 2 ) inch, which 
in turn shall be fastened to the ma¬ 
sonry wall with expansion bolts not 
smaller than one-half by four (y>x4) 
inches, and shields. All such ducts 
shall extend to a height of three (3) 
feet above the parapet wall of any 
building within twelve (12) feet; pro- 



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The Building Code 


77 


vided, however, that they need not 
extend more than three (3) feet 
above the parapet of the wall to which 
it is fastened, if the occupancy of the 
construction of the buildings within 
twelve (12) feet of the duct is such 
that the fumes in no way can become 
a nuisance to the occupants of the 
adjacent buildings. 

Ventilating ducts from cooking de¬ 
vices shall have a hood over the top 


so as to prevent rain falling into the 
pipe. ., , 

All such ducts shall be provided 
with tightly fitting doors located at 
each angle in the pipe and at other 
necessary locations in order that they 
may be thoroughly cleaned, or they 
shall be constructed in removable sec¬ 
tions as mentioned above in order 
that they may be removed and 
cleaned. The above requirements shall 
also apply to vent ducts from coffee 
roasters. 


PART 6 MEANS OF EGRESS 


Section 601. All buildings shall 
be provided with good safe and suffi¬ 
cient means of egress in case of fire 
or panic. Such means of egress from 
floors not at grade shall be by means 
of open or enclosed service stairways, 
fireproof tower stairways, fire es¬ 
capes, fire escape ladders, through 
adjoining buildings, or other equiva¬ 
lent means approved by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings. Besides the 
means of egress hereinafter provided, 
there may be required such addi¬ 
tional means of egress as are neces¬ 
sary to provide good, safe and suffi¬ 
cient means of escape. There shall. 
be at least one means of egress for 
each division between division walls. 

All required means of egress and 
all required or necessary approaches 
thereto shall be kept free from ob¬ 
struction and all such required or 
necessary approaches shall be at least 
equal in width to the required width 
of the means of egress which they 
serve. 

The following requirements of this 
Part relating to stairs do not apply 
to dwellings and buildings appurte¬ 
nant thereto except as specifically 
provided. 

Section 602. Every building two 
stories in height from the lowest 
street or alley grade shall be pro¬ 
vided with at least one stairway. 

Every building three stories high 
from the lowest street or alley grade 
shall be provided with at least one 
stairway and one public fire escape 
ladder. 

Every building more than three 
stories in height from the lowest 
street or alley grade, hereafter erect¬ 
ed or altered to the extent of more 
than 50 per cent of its original cost, 
shall be provided with at least one 
stairway and at least one fire escape 
constructed as hereinafter provided. 
In factories, workshops, stores, places 
of habitation, refuge and detention 
over two stories high, additional fire 
escape stairways, fire escape ladders, 
fireproof tower stairways, or open 
service stairways shall be provided 
sufficient in number and so located 
that from every room or connected 
suite of rooms there shall be at least 
two of the above mentioned means 
of egress available without passing 
any open stairway, elevator pit, or 
open light well. One of such means 
of egress available from any room 
or connected suite of rooms may be 
a private fire escape available only 
for the occupants of such room or 
connected suite of rooms. 

The means of egress from towers 
shall be good, safe and sufficient and 
the number, location, construction 
and enclosures of such means of 
egress shall comply with such rea¬ 


sonable regulations as the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings may prescribe. 

Section 603. Every fireproof build¬ 
ing used as a hotel or office building 
shall have one flight of stairs for 
each 8,000 square feet or fraction 
thereof of second floor area. Every 
fireproof building used as a store, 
warehouse, factory or workshop shall 
have one flight of stairs for each 
10,000 square feet of the second floor 
area or fraction thereof. 

Section 604. Every non-fireproof 
building used as a hotel, office build¬ 
ing, store, warehouse, factory or 
workshop shall have one flight of 
stairs for the first 3,500 square feet 
of second floor area and one addi¬ 
tional flight of stairs for any added 
area within the first 10,000 square 
feet of second floor area, and an ad¬ 
ditional flight for each additional 
10,000 square feet of the second floor 
area or fraction thereof. 

Provided, however, that two-story 
warehouses constructed on ’he water¬ 
front and used for the storage and 
shipping of freight, merchandise and 
commodities in which the number of 
men employed on the second floor 
shall not exceed two persons for each 
1,000 square feet of floor area, and 
which project wholly or in part over 
the water shall have not less than 
one flight of stairs for every 14,400 
square feet or fraction thereof of 
the second floor area. In no case 
shall such building if exceeding 3,500 
sqaure feet in second floor area have 
less than two stairways, and there 
shall not be less than one stairway 
in each fire division of each build¬ 
ing between fire walls; and stairways 
shall be enclosed as hereinafter pro¬ 
vided for buildings over two stories 
in height and shall terminate at an 
exit to a street, alley or yard; pro¬ 
vided that in such building of smaller 
area, the means of egress shall be 
as approved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Section 605. In fireproof office 
buildings when the number of stairs 
required is but 2, then an open service 
stairway may be omitted if the other- 
stairway is fireproof enclosed to a 
street, alley or yard and if the build¬ 
ing is provided with 2 fire escapes 
located as approved by the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings. 

In fireproof office buildings when 
the number of stairs required is 3 
or more in non-fireproof hotels and 
office buildings when the number re¬ 
quired is 4 or more, then one open 
service stairway may be omitted if 
another required service stairway is 
fireproof enclosed to a street, alley 
or yard and the building provided 











78 


The Building Code 


with not less than 2 fire escapes in 
any case. 

In all buildings required to have 2 
or more open or enclosed stairways, 
one may be replaced by one fireproof 
tower stairway as herein defined. In 
all buildings having 2 or more open 
service stairways or 2 or more stair¬ 
ways enclosed from the top to the 
second floor, then one of such stair¬ 
ways may have its width and dimen¬ 
sions of its risers and treads as re¬ 
quired of enclosed tower stairways. 
In such buildings one tower stairway 
or one fireproof enclosed stairway 
may replace 2 fire escapes, if the 
means of egress are then good, safe 
and sufficient. A tower stairway 
may be replaced by a fireproof en¬ 
closed service stairway. 

In any building a required fire es¬ 
cape may be omitted if an additional 
stairway is provided beyond the re¬ 
quired number. In any building 2 
required fire escapes may be omitted 
if an enclosed stairway is provided 
beyond the required number, satis¬ 
factory to the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

In any non-fireproof building used 
as a warehouse or office building 
having a second floor area of 6,000 
square feet or less which is required 
to have 2 stairways, then one of the 
required stairways may be omitted 
if the building is provided with 2 
fire escapes. 

Where 2 areas of the same build¬ 
ing adjoin and are separated by fire¬ 
proof dividing walls and have 2 stair¬ 
ways each, they have a stairway in 
common, provided such stairway is 
not less than 1 y 2 times the required 
width of any required stairway in 
such adjoining areas; and further 
provided that such common stairway 
is enclosed with fireproof partitions 
having approved fireproof openings. 
When such common stairway is used 
then one stairway from each of the 
adjoining areas may be omitted, but 
in no case shall there be less than 
one other stairway in each of such 
adjoining areas. 

When adjoining buildings or build¬ 
ings on opposite sides of an alley 
or other open space, and of the same 
class, and used by the same person, 
are connected by a fireproof bridge 
or passageway with fireproof doors 
at each end, or by a fireproof door on 
each floor; and if such bridge or 
passageway or fireproof door is lo¬ 
cated as far as practicable from the 
stairway in both of said buildings, I 
then said bridge or passageway or 
fireproof door may be considered 
equivalent to a stairway for one of 
the buildings. 

All fire escapes except one may be 
omitted provided that one of every 
two stairways required in a building 
constructed throughout of iron, steel 
or masonry, or a combination of 
these materials, and with risers, 
treads and landings as required for 
tower stairways, but is built on the 
outside of the building and has an 
entrance on every floor from a ma¬ 
sonry or iron or steel balcony or 
loggia free and open to the outside 
air, and whore all stair halls, elevator 
shafts and other openings through 
the floor from the ground entrance 
to the roof in the interior of the 
building are enclosed in fireproof 
walls with approved self-closing, 
fireproof doors. 


i Section 606. Every fireproof build¬ 
ing used as a place of habitation, 
! refuge or detention except hotels 
, shall have not less than one flight 
: of stairs at least the minimum width 
i hereinafter provided, for the first 50 
l rooms above the ground floor, exclu- 
- sive of toilet rooms and kitchenettes, 
> and 2 such flights for the first 140 
• such rooms and one additional flight 

■ for each additional 140 such rooms 

■ or major fraction thereof. 

Every non-fireproof building used 
for such purposes except hotels shall 
have at least one flight of stairs of 
! the minimum width hereinafter pro¬ 
vided, for any minor fraction of the 
first 80 rooms above the ground floor, 
exclusive of toilet rooms and kitchen¬ 
ettes, and 2 such flights for any ma¬ 
jor fraction thereof, and an additional 
flight for each additional 80 such 
rooms or major fraction thereof. 

If the fractional part of the said 
140 rooms or the 80 additional rooms 
does not exceed half these numbers 
respectively, the additional flight of 
stairs may be omitted if the sum of 
the width of all stairways otherwise 
required and halls leading thereto be 
increased by y 2 the width of such 
additional flight. 

Each room or suite of rooms in any 
place of habitation, refuge or deten¬ 
tion shall have available for egress 
not less than two stairways or one 
stairway and one fire escape without 
passing any open stair, well, elevator 
shaft or light shaft. When the en¬ 
trance to such room or suite of rooms 
is within 20'0" of a fireproof enclosed 
stairway or is on a stub-hall and 
not more than 20'0" from a main hall 
having the required means of egress, 
then such room or suite of rooms 
may have but one means of egress, 
provided not more than 3 such en¬ 
trances shall be placed on such stub- 
hall. 

Section 607. Every non-fireproof 
dwelling exceeding 2 stories in height 
shall have 2 flights of stairs if there 
be 10 and not more than 20 rooms 
above the first story and an addi¬ 
tional flight if there be more than 
20 such rooms. A fireproof dwelling 
may have one less flight of stairs 
than is required for a non-fireproof 
dwelling. 

Section 608. Every cellar or base¬ 
ment used for the storage of com¬ 
bustible materials, or containing 
boilers or machinery in operation or 
used for any purpose producting an 
equivalent fire hazard, shall have 2 
means of egress, one of which must 
be direct to a street, alley or yard 
and may consist of a stationary lad¬ 
der. Every cellar or basement shall 
have a stairway at least 3'0" wide 
for the first 7,500 square feet or frac¬ 
tion thereof and one additional stair¬ 
way for each additional 7,500 square 
feet or major fraction thereof. At 
least one stairway shall open direct 
onto a street, alley or yard. 

Section 609. Every building 2 or 
more stories high shall have at least 
one of the required stairways extend 
from the ground floor to the top floor. 

Any fireproof office building, hotel, 
store, warehouse, factory or work¬ 
shop in which more than 2 stairways 
are required may have V 2 or minor 
fraction of the required number of 
the stairways, which extend from 
the top downward, stop at the second 







The Building Code 


floor, provided other satisfactory 
means of egress are supplied from 
the second floor. 

Stairways shall be continuous from 
the top of the stairway to the bot¬ 
tom, except that in % or the minor 
fraction of the required number of 
stairs extending to the ground floor, 
offsets of not more than 4O'O'" may 
be allowed at the second floor; and 
at the top floor in stairways extend¬ 
ing to the roof, provided such off¬ 
sets are enclosed by a direct pas¬ 
sageway. 

Section 615. Stairways in fireproof 
buildings shall be of fireproof mate¬ 
rials, except hand rails, window 
stools and treads to balcony stairs 
elsewhere provided. Treads and 
platforms covered with natural or 
artificial stone shall have such stone, 
when less than 2 inches thick, sup¬ 
ported throughout by metal suffi¬ 
ciently strong to carry temporarily 
the stone and the probable live load 
in case of breakage by fire or other¬ 
wise. 

Stairway anchors and supports 
shall be of such strength as to sus¬ 
tain with safety the loads of the 
stairways which they carry. 

Section 616. In all stairways 
there shall be at least 7'0" of clear 
head room measured perpendicularly 
from the nosings. 

The width of stairs shall be taken 
as the distance in the clear between 
walls, hand rails, newel posts or 
other obstructions. In all buildings, 
stairs and public halls used as means 
of egress shall be at least 3'6" wide 
and every hall shall be at least 6 
inches wider than the widest door 
swinging into it. In all office build¬ 
ings and hotels over 10 stories in 
height, every required stairway in 
the lower 10 stories shall be increased 
one inch in width throughout for 
each additional story. In all stores, 
workshops and factories over 8 
stories in height every stairway in 
the lower 8 stories shall be increased 
one inch in width throughout for 
each additional story. In all places 
of habitation, refuge or detention 
over 6 stories in height every stair¬ 
way in the lower 6 stories shall be 
increased one inch in width through¬ 
out for each additional story. 

When 2 or more stairways are re¬ 
quired, not more than y 2 the number 
of such stairways may be made 6 
inches less than the required width, 
provided the remaining stairways 
are made 6 inches more than the re¬ 
quired width. 

Stairs in hospitals, asylums, and 
buildings for housing the aged, the 
sick and infirm, imbeciles, or children 
shall be 25 per cent, wider than here¬ 
in required. 

Section 617. The height of a riser 
plus the width of a tread shall not 
be less than 16 inches nor more than 
23 inches; provided that the width 
of treads in stairs serving at times 
a hundred or more persons shall not 
be less than 10 inches. 

The height of a riser is the dis¬ 
tance between the tops of two con¬ 
secutive treads. The width of a 
tread is the distance between the 
faces of two consecutive risers. The 
dimensions of treads and risers shall 
be maintained uniform in each run 
of stairs. The height of risers shall 
in no case exceed the width of tread. 


79 


except as provided for fireproof tower 
stairs. 

Winders when used shall meet the 
approval of the Superintendent of 
Buildings and comply with the fol¬ 
lowing requirements: The width of 
risers and treads in winders shall 
be taken at a point 1'3" from their 
narrow ends. The narrow ends of 
treads shall be not less than 5 inches 
in width and the wide ends not more 
than 30 inches in width. The inside 
stair string of winders shall be built 
on a radius of not less than 7% 
inches. Wide, easy monumental 
stairs having curved risers and 
treads may be constructed on a large 
radius if equivalent to or better than 
straight stairs and if approved by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 618. There shall be not 
less than 2 risers nor more than 20 
risers between consecutive landings 
in buildings. Every landing not 
forming a turn in the stairway shall 
be at least 3'0". Every landing form¬ 
ing a right angle turn in a stairway 
shall be as deep as the stairs are 
wide. Every landing where stairs 
turn upon themselves shall be at 
least equal to both flights in width 
and equal to one flight in depth. The 
depth of landings at the top and bot¬ 
tom of enclosed stairs shall be *4 
greater than the width of the stairs 
and 3 /4 greater than the width of any 
door opening onto the same. 

Doors shall not swing over land¬ 
ings in a manner to reduce any di¬ 
mensions of such landings in places 
of public assembly and shall not 
swing over landings in any other 
building more than % of the required 
width of the adjoining stairs. No 
doors shall swing over stairs. 

Section 619. All stairways of more 
than three risers shall have substan¬ 
tial balusters and hand rails around 
all well holes and along all sides of 
flights and landings not adjoining 
walls. 

All stairways in.or leading to places 
of public assembly, public buildings, 
places of refuge and detention and 
all stairways over 4'0" wide in all 
other buildings shall have hand rails 
on both sides, except that on landings 
of greater length than the width of 
the adjoining stairs in buildings 
other than places of public assembly, 
a wall rail will not be required. 

Section 620. Every fireproof tower 
stairway used as a means of egress 
shall be constructed next to an ex¬ 
terior wall and not more than 30'0" 
from a street or alley line, and shall 
open directly upon a street or alley 
or into a fireproof passageway lead¬ 
ing directly to such street or alley, 
which passageway shall not be less 
than 3'0" in width and 7'0" in height 
in the clear. There shall be no open¬ 
ings through the walls of such pas¬ 
sageway except fireproof openings 
approved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Such stairways shall be enclosed 
throughout} their entire height by 
masonry walls not less than 4 inches 
thick, or by other approved fireproof 
partitions, and all windows of such 
enclosures shall be fireproof. 

There shall be at each floor a fire¬ 
proof door not less than 2'6" wide 
and 6'0" high, opening from a public 
hall or passageway into the stair¬ 
way. The lower door of such 
stairway shall open outward upon the 







so 


The Budding Code 


street or into the fireproof passage¬ 
way above mentioned. 

All doors in connection with fire¬ 
proof tower stairways shall be kept 
closed and shall be provided with 
approved self-closing devices, which 
shall at all times be kept in good 
repair. No such door leading into a 
fireproof stairway shall have at¬ 
tached thereto or connected there¬ 
with any fastening device that can¬ 
not be easily opened from the inside 
of the building into such stairway 
without a key. No lower door lead¬ 
ing out of such stairway shall have 
attached thereto or connected there¬ 
with any fastening device that can¬ 
not be easily opened from the inside 
without a key. 

Every such stairway shall lead 
from the street or alley floor to the 
roof of the building, and shall be not 
less than 2'6" wide in the clear from 
the roof to the sixth floor from the 
top and not less than ST" wide in 
the clear from the sixth floor from 
the top to the street or alley floor. 
The landings shall be not less in 
width than the width of the stairs 
at each floor, and of sufficient width 
to prevent the door when open from 
obstructing the stairs or landing. 
Every fireproof tower stairway shall 
have a run of not less than 7 inches 
and a rise of not more than 9 inches, 
and shall be provided with a con¬ 
tinuous hand rail on both sides, 
except at doorways. Such hand rails 
shall be on steps. Said stairs and 
landings shall be constructed 
throughout of incombustible mate¬ 
rials. 

Section G25. Every building over 
three stories high, except fireproof 
office buildings, required to have but 

2 stairways, shall have at least one 
stairway enclosed from the second 
floor to the top of the stairway at 
the top floor or roof; and shall have 
such additional stairway enclosures 
as are hereinafter required. 

Section 626. Stairway enclosures 
in fireproof buildings shall be fire¬ 
proof and in no-fireproof buildings 
shall be fireproof or non-fireproof as 
hereinafter required. 

Stairways adjoining elevator shafts 
shall be separated from such shafts 
by fireproof partitions. 

Stairways in all fireproof buildings 
and in non-fireproof buildings over 

3 stories in height, used as stores, 
warehouses, factories or workshops 
shall be enclosed with fireproof walls 
or partitions. In non-fireproof build¬ 
ings 3 stories or less in height used 
for such purposes, stairway enclo¬ 
sures may be built of 2 thicknesses 
of vertically placed 1%-inch matched 
lumber, with 30-lb. asbestos paper 
between, and with broken joints; or 
may be built as required of parti¬ 
tions in mill buildings. 

Section 627. Every stairway lead¬ 
ing to an upper story used as a place 
of public assembly, or place of habi¬ 
tation, refuge or detention, and pass¬ 
ing through a first story used for a 
different purpose shall be enclosed 
from the top of the stairway to a 
street, alley or yard. Such enclo¬ 
sures shall be fireproof from the bot¬ 
tom to the top of the second floor 
level if in buildings more than 3 
stories high. Such enclosures in non- 
fireproof buildings not more than 3 
stories may be built of 2 thicknesses 


of vertically placed 1%-inch lumber, 
with 30-lb. asbestos paper between, 
and with broken joints, as required 
of partitions in mill buildings. 

Section 628. In places of public 
assembly, and places of habitation, 
refuge or detention there shall be no 
doors opening from the first story 
stair enclosure into a store, saloon or 
other room of a different class of oc¬ 
cupancy than that of the floors above, 
excepting offices used in connection 
with the upper floors and enclosed 
as provided for stair enclosures, and 
not connected with the remainder of 
the first story. Provided that in first 
story entrance halls containing stairs 
in fireproof hotels there may be ap¬ 
proved metal or metal covered self¬ 
closing doors if glazed with wire 
glass and set in metal frames. 

Section 629. Stairways from base¬ 
ments or cellars leading direct to a 
street, alley or yard shall not be re¬ 
quired to be enclosed. Stairways to 
basements or cellars in school build¬ 
ings or buildings containing places 
of public assembly or to any base¬ 
ment used for the storage or sale of 
combustible goods, or containing a 
boiler in operation, or used for any 
purpose producing an equivalent fire 
hazard, shall be enclosed with fire¬ 
proof walls or partitions extending 
to the top of the ground floor; pro¬ 
vided that in any division of a fire¬ 
proof store building having fire walls 
as required for buildings other than 
stores, one open stairway from the 
ground floor to basement may be pro¬ 
vided in addition to the required 
stairways, subject to approval by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

There shall be no stairway leading 
to a basement from any required 
fireproof stairway enclosure in the 
ground story unless approved self¬ 
closing fireproof doors separate the 
ground story stairway enclosure from 
the basement stairway enclosure. 
There shall be no stairway to a base¬ 
ment under any flight of stairs in a 
building containing a place of pub¬ 
lic assembly unless said basement 
stairway is separately enclosed with 
a masonry wall or other fireproof 
partition with openings therefrom 
provided with approved, self-closing 
fireproof doors. 

Section 630. In buildings over 3 
stories in height, the required stair¬ 
way enclosures shall include stair 
halls connecting successive runs of 
stairs. At the ground floor not less 
than one such enclosure and not less 
than half the required number of 
enclosures shall terminate at an exit 
or exits to a street, alley or yard; 
provided that when the required 
number is a fraction the number re¬ 
quired so to terminate shall be the 
nearest lower number. Such enclo¬ 
sures leading to exits shall be con¬ 
structed as required of the adjoining 
stair enclosures, except that in fire¬ 
proof office buildings the main hall 
immediately surrounding the stairs 
and the elevators may have the sash 
and doors of such main hall of hard¬ 
wood glazed with wire glass, or with 
plate glass when the class of occu¬ 
pancy of the adjoining store or shop 
window is such as to minimize the 
fire hazard to a degree approved by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 631. All interior doors in 
required stair enclosures shall be 






The Building Code 


81 


*4--— —.——---— 

hung to remain closed at all times, 
and may be held open if provided 
with approved devices which shall 
insure automatic closing at a tem¬ 
perature of 165° Fahrenheit. Such 
doors shall be fireproof in fireproof 
enclosures, and in non-fireproof en¬ 
closures shall be of a construction 
equivalent to the enclosure. 

Doors to enclosures shall not be 
fastened except in such manner that 
they can be readily opened by any 
person seeking egress without the 
use of a key. 

Section 632. All interior sash in 
required stairway enclosures except 
in frame buildings shall be of metal 
frames fixed in position. The metal 
shall be riveted or clinched and 'in 
no case dependent upon solder. Sash 
in all required stair enclosures shall 
be glazed with wire glass in lights 
not exceeding 6 square feet in area 
each; provided that glass in exit en¬ 
closures is not limited as to size. 

Section 633. Exit doors from the 
bottom of stairways shall, either 
single or in the aggregate, be 
at least equal in width to the stairs 
they serve; and shall, when serving 
as exits from places of public as¬ 
sembly, swing outward. 

Section 634. Entrance stair halls 
shall be at least as wide as the stairs 
or the aggregate width of same if 
more than one flight leads from the 
same entrance hall. All entrance halls 
leading to stairways shall be as short 
as practicable from such stairways 
to a public street, alley or yard. 

Section 635. Every public hall 
shall be lighted in each story except 
the ground story by at least one win¬ 
dow, having a glass area of at least 
15 square feet, opening directly on 
a street, alley, yard or court, and 
so placed as properly to light the 
hall; or shall be lighted by equiva¬ 
lent skylights or by equivalent bor¬ 
rowed light through glass in walls 
or doors of adjoining rooms or the 
ceiling of such hall, and such hall 
shall have an adequate artificial light 
for night service while the building 
is occupied. Any part of a public 
hall which is shut off from any part 
by a door or doors shall be deemed 
a separate public hall within the 
meaning of this section. 

Section 636. Shafts, chutes and 
other openings through floors, except 
stair wells and elevator shafts, the 
enclosures of which are elsewhere 
herein provided for, shall, in fireproof 
buildings, be enclosed throughout 
with fireproof construction. In mill 
buildings and in ordinary masonry 
buildings over three (3) stories high, 
such floor openings shall be enclosed 
by mill partitions, the solid wood 
portion of which shall be not less 
than four (4) inches thick In ordi¬ 
nary masonry buildings three (3) 
stories or less in height and in frame 
buildings, the openings shall be en¬ 
closed in mill constructed partitions 
or in single two-inch by six-inch (2 
in. by 6 in.) tongued and grooved 
lumber. All wood enclosure con¬ 
struction shall be continuous from 
bottom to top’; the supporting of the 
enclosure on the top of wood floors 
in each story will not be permitted. 
The inside of all such wood enclos¬ 
ures shall be either lathed and plas¬ 
tered or protected by two (2) thick¬ 
nesses of plaster board or by plaster 


board covered with sheet metal either 
lock jointed or lapped at least one 
and one-half (1 y 2 ) inches. 

In buildings not over two (2) stor¬ 
ies high, the enclosure need not ex¬ 
tend above the ceiling of the first 
story. In fireproof and mill build¬ 
ings and in ordinary'masonry build¬ 
ings over three (3) stories high, all 
openings in such enclosures shall be 
equipped with Class “A” or “B ’’ fire 
doors. In ordinary masonry build¬ 
ings, three (3> stories or less in 
height, and in frame buildings the 
openings in such enclosures shall be 
equipped with Class “A,” “B” or “C” 
fire doors. 

Section 640. All fire escapes shall 
be kept clear of all obstruction what¬ 
soever. Every public fire escape lad¬ 
der or fire escape shall open directly 
from a hall or passageway to the 
outer wall of the building. A door 
or window shall open onto each fire 
escape in the building. In buildings 
not over 6 stories high, used for of¬ 
fice or business purposes in which 
no one sleeps except the janitor and 
his family, such fire escape ladder or 
fire escape may be located in such 
a manner and position as to make 
the same easily and readily accessible 
through some passage or open 
room leading thereto from the main 
hallways. The door of such room 
shall have no lock or bolt or other 
device whereby the same can be fas¬ 
tened; or such door may have a fas¬ 
tening device provided the door con¬ 
tains a full-sized glass panel extend¬ 
ing to within 2'6" of the floor and 
provided such fastening device can 
be readily opened from the outside 
after the glass is broken. 

Section 641. No door or window 
leading to a fire escape shall have 
attached thereto or connected there¬ 
with any bolt, lock, catch or other 
fastening device that cannot be easily 
opened from the inside without a 
key, and no door or window leading 
to a fire escape shall be so construct¬ 
ed that when open it can obstruct 
any part of the escape or balcony. 
Every door opening onto a fire escape 
shall be glazed so that the fire escape 
can be seen from the inside. 

No window or door leading to a 
fire escape shall have a sill more than 
24 inches above the floor or an open¬ 
ing less than 30 inches high and 24 
inches wide in the clear. 

In every case where a fire escape 
passes a window in an elevator shaft 
or other shaft, such window shall 
consist of a metal frame and sash 
and wire glass. 

Section 642. All fire escape ladders 
and stairway fire escapes shall be 
constructed entirely of wrought iron 
and steel. 

All exterior fire escapes, including 
balconies, hand rails and grille work, 
shall at all times be kept painted 
with an effective paint to prevent 
rusting. 

Section 643. Every fire escape lad¬ 
der shall have side rails % inch by 
1% inch placed not less than 14 
inches apart, and rounds % inch in 
diameter, placed 14 inches apart and 
passing through the side rails and 
well headed. 

The ladder shall extend from a 
point 9'0" above the ground to a point 
over and 2'0" above the fire wall and 
shall be parallel with and not less 
than 6" from the wall of the building. 






82 


The Building Code 


Where the first balcony is more than 
12'0" from the ground and is so situ¬ 
ated that a fixed ladder would inter¬ 
fere with doors and windows below, 
the ladder below said balcony may 
be a hinged or other suitable form 
of extension. » 

Section 644. A balcony not less 
than 2'6" wide and extending the 
full width of the window or door and 
width of the ladder space, shall be 
constructed on each floor at each 
ladder, with floor strong enough to 
carry a load of 100 pounds to the 
square foot. Such floor, in case the 
opening from the building is a door¬ 
way, shall be on the level with the 
sill of the door, and in case the open¬ 
ing is a window shall be l'O" below 
the window sill. Ladder openings 
in floors of balconies shall not be 
less than 20" by 24". 

Section 645. The floor rail of every 
balcony shall be of % inch by 2 inch 
wrought iron or its equivalent, and 
shall be supported by braces V 2 inch 
by 2 inches. The hand rail of balcony 
shall be made of iron or steel not less 
than % inch by 1 % together and to 
the wall. Such hand rail shall be not 
less than 3'0" above the floor of the 
balcony, and braced ever 5'0" with 
braces extending not less than 4" out¬ 
side the uprights. The space from the 
handrail to the floor shall be filled 
with grille work or additional rails 
and uprights. 

^Section 646. All ladders and bal¬ 
conies, including brackets and hand 
rails, shall be securely fastened to 
masonry buildings by means of bolts 
or rods at least % inch in diameter 
running through the entire thickness 
of the wall, and fastened on the in¬ 
side with nuts or heads over 4-inch 
washers. On frame buildings such 
ladders and balconies shall be fas¬ 
tened to studs by means of lag bolts 
or wood screws at least V 2 inch in 
diameter and 4 inches long, and shall 
be of sufficient strength to sustain a 
live load of 100 pounds to the square 
foot. 

Section 647. Every fire escape shall 
lead from within 9 feet of the ground 
to the top floor, and shall have a fire 
escape ladder from the top floor to 
2 feet above and over the fire wall; 
provided that where a fire escape is 
over an alley the lower balcony shall 
be placed not less than 12 feet above 
the ground and a fire escape ladder 
shall extend from 5 feet above the 
lower balcony to within 9 feet of the 
ground. 

Section 648. Such fire escapes shall 
be no less than 2 feet 0 inches wide 
in the clear, and shall be provided 
with balconies 4 feet 2 inches wide 
at each floor level. Such balconies 
shall be not more than 12 feet no 
inches apart perpendicularly when 
practicable and shall be placed and 
constructed as required for ladder 
balconies except that the bolts secur¬ 
ing the brackets to the wall shall 
be at least % inch in diameter, and 
the entire outer side of the fire es¬ 
cape and balconies from the top to 
the bottom shall be protected with 
wire netting of 3-16 inch wire, or 
strong grille work having a mesh of 
not greater than 6 inches, or by sheet 
or plate iron or steel, built 4 feet 0 
inches above the balcony floor and 4 
feet 0 inches perpendicularly above 


the outer edge of the steps of the 
stairs, and every such stairway shall 
also have a strong hand rail on the 
inner side 3 feet 0 inches perpendicu¬ 
larly above the center of the steps. 

Section 649. Treads of fire escapes 
shall be not less than 6% inches wide 
and risers shall be not more than 12 
inches high. Stringers for stairs 
shall be of 6-inch steel cha/nnels 
weighing not less than 8 pounds per 
foot, or steel plates 6 inches by *4 
inch each, stiffened by a 2 1 / ^x2%x 1 4- 
inch steel angle, riveted to stringer 
with not less than %-inch rivets, 
spaced not more than 6 inches from 
center to center. The stringers shall 
be riveted or bolted to the framing 
of the platform. 

Treads shall be formed of five %- 
inch iron bars, or of diapered steel 
plates securely fastened to stringers 
with two bolts or rivets at each end 
of treads. 

Eection 650. Fire escape stairways 
shall be securely fastened to the bal¬ 
conies and each shall be of sufficient 
strength to sustain safely a live load 
of 100 pounds to the square foot. 

Section 651. The owner or agent 
of any building more than two stories 
in height from the lowest street or 
alley grade, used or occupied as a 
hotel, lodging house, apartment house, 
tenement or flat building shall at all 
times keep conspicuously posted in 
every room and hallway of such 
building when used as a hotel or lodg¬ 
ing house, and in every public hall of 
such building when used or occupied 
as an apartment house, tenement 
house or flat building, a white placard 
not less than 4x6 inches, printed in 
red in conspicuous type, giving full 
information as to the location of each 
fire escape in such building and the 
means of reaching the same and di¬ 
rections to be observed by tenants 
in the event of fire on the premises 
and distinctly stating that a red light 
indicates the location of a fire escape. 

Section 652. The owner or agent 
of any building more than two stories 
in height from the lowest street or 
alley grade, used or occupied as a 
hotel, lodging house, apartment house, 
tenement house or flat building, shall 
cause to be placed and maintained at 
the end of each hall leading to or 
at the entrance of each room through 
which it is necessary to pass in order 
to reach any fire escape, a red light, 
which shall always be kept burning 
at night and which shall be on a 
separate service. He shall also cause 
to be posted and maintained on the 
door of every room through which 
it is necessary to pass to reach any 
fire escape a conspicuous notice di¬ 
recting persons to pass through such 
door for the purpose of reaching the 
fire escape. 

Section 653. Every building two 
or more stories in height having a 
roof with a rise not exceeding 5 
inches to the foot, shall have in every 
portion thereof between division walls 
at least one scuttle not less than 2 
feet 0 inches by 3 feet 0 inches in di¬ 
mensions with a stationary ladder 
leading thereto from the top floor; or 
at least one stairway leading from the 
top floor to a pent house, having a door 
not less than 2 feet 0 inches by 6 
feet no inches in dimensions, which 
stairway, if enclosed, shall be pro¬ 
vided with substantial hand rails, and 






The Building Code 


83 


if not enclosed, shall be provided with 
substantial guard or hand rails on 
both sides. All ladders and stairways 
shall be of such materials as are al¬ 
lowed in the class of buildings in 
which they are constructed. 

Every such ladder or stairway shall 
lead out of a public hall if the top 
floor is divided into rooms. 

Every scuttle cover and pent house 
door on buildings having incombusti¬ 
ble roofs as required shall be of in¬ 
combustible material, or shall be 
covered with tin or galvanized iron. 
Such covers and doors shall be fas¬ 
tened on the inside only, with a mov¬ 
able hook or bolt which can be with¬ 
drawn without the use of a key. 

Section 660. Elevator installations 
shall be good, safe and sufficient and 
shall be designed, constructed and in¬ 
stalled according to accepted me¬ 
chanical engineering practice. Such 
installations shall be suitable and 
complete, including the elevator en¬ 
closure, gates, shafts, machinery, 
cabs, cables, counterweights, sup¬ 
ports, safety devices, controlling ap¬ 
pliances and all other parts or appur¬ 
tenances connected therewith. 

Elevators in dwellings are not re¬ 
quired to comply with the provisions 
of this Code relating to elevators. 

The provisions of this Code relating 
to elevators having a run of not more 
than two stories shall apply only as 
deemed reasonably applicable by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 661. Every elevator stiaft 
below the first floor level shall be 
enclosed with masonry or other fire¬ 
proof walls and shall be provided 
with approved self-closing fireproof 
floors. When the elevator machine is 
located in the basement and projects 
out of the elevator shaft, an opening 
may be left in the shaft wall pro¬ 
vided the room enclosing the engine 
is entirely enclosed by fireproof walls, 
having approved self-closing doors 
and windows. 

Section 662. Every elevator shaft 
above the first floor level in fireproof 
buildings shall be enclosed through¬ 
out with fireproof material and ap- 
prof doors. 

Section 663. Every elevator shaft 
above the first floor level in non-fire- 
proof buildings if within 20 feet 0 
inches of a stairway, shall be en¬ 
closed with fireproof materials and 
approved fireproof doors. 

Every passenger elevator enclosure 
in non-fireproof buildings, located 


more than 20 feet 0 inches from a 
stairway, shall be of fireproof con¬ 
struction, or if not exceeding four 
stories and a basement in height may 
be of solid stud or approved lami¬ 
nated plank construction at least 3% 
inches thick, lined with tin as re¬ 
quired for the covering of fireproof 
doors, or plastered on both sides with 
hard plaster % inch thick. In all 
such cases the enclosures shall be 
provided with approved fireproof 
door£. 

Section 664. Every freight elevator 
shaft and open hoistway shall be sur¬ 
rounded with a solid or open wood 
or metal wainscot on all floors, at 
least 6 feet 0 inches in height and 
shall be provided with a self-closing- 
gate at each approach to said eleva¬ 
tor or hoistway arranged to slide ver¬ 
tically. Such gate shall be as nearly 
5 feet 6 inches high as practicable 
considering the ceiling heights and 
the lower rail shall be as close to the 
floor as possible when the gate is 
closed and yet provide proper head- 
room. 

The openings through such railing 
shall not exceed 3 inches in their 
least dimension. 

The openings through such gate 
shall not exceed 3 inches in least 
dimensions except that sufficient 
opening may be left to give access 
to the rope control and except when 
it is impracticable to place the lower 
rail at the floor level. 

Section 665. All buildings erected 
or altered to be used as places of 
habitation, refuge or detention, shall 
have all passenger and freight eleva¬ 
tor shafts enclosed throughout with 
fireproof materials and shall be pro¬ 
vided with approved fireproof open¬ 
ings. 

Every building used as a store, fac¬ 
tory or workshop where more than 
25 persons per freight elevator are 
employed on each floor, or where 
more than 100 persons per freight 
elevator are employed throughout the 
building, shall have the shafts of 
such freight elevators enclosed 
throughout with fireproof materials 
or with solid stud or approved 
laminated plank construction at least 
3% inches thick, lined with tin as 
required for the covering of fireproof 
doors, or plastered on both sides with 
hard plaster y 2 inch thick. Such 
shafts shall be provided with ap¬ 
proved fireproof openings. 

Section 666. Every fireproof en¬ 
closure door leading to a freight ele¬ 
vator shall be arranged to close auto- 


ELEVATORS 

FREIGHT AND PASSENGER 

Electric, Hydraulic Plunger, Belt-Driven and Hand-Power 
ELEVATORS and DUMB-WAITERS 

WASHINGTON ELEVATOR COMPANY 

Telephone IL iot 3813 

1710 Fourth Avenue South Seattle, Wash. 







84 


The Building Code 


OTIS ELEVATOR CO. 

ELEVATORS 


ESCALATORS DUMBWAITERS 

SPIRAL GRAVITY CONVEYORS 

FOURTH AND BLANCHARD STREETS 

SEATTLE, WASH. 


Service Day and Night 

OFFICES 

IN ALL PRINCIPAL CITIES OF THE WORLD 


Montgomery Elevator Co. 

-——DISTRIBUTORS FOR-. 

Kaestner Hecht Westinghouse 
Gearless Traction Elevators 

_ ___ J 

Elevators Cared For by the Month 


Shop Phone EL iot 0601 

709 2ND AVE. (Rear) SEATTLE, WASH. 




























85 


The Building Code 


matically when the elevator leaves 
the floor at which said door is lo¬ 
cated; or such door may be fastened 
opened by a fusible link that will 
fuse at a temperature of 180 degrees 
Fahrenheit, allowing the door to close 
automatically, provided the freight 
elevator or the enclosure at each floor 
is equipped with an additional door 
or gate at least 5 feet 6 inches high 
and built of fireproof materials. 

Section 667. Every door and gate 
to an elevator shaft shall always be 
closed when the elevator leaves the 
level of the floor, or be so designed 
that the elevator cannot be started 
until they are closed. 

Every d6or to any elevator shaft 
shall be so fastened that it cannot 
be opened from the outside without 
the use of a key, except that doors 
to such shafts containing automatic 
electric passenger elevators or auto¬ 
matic dumb waiters may be opened 
from the outside. Such doors lead¬ 
ing to automatic elevators shall be 
equipped with devices that will keep 
all doors shut except the door at 
landing where elevator is stopped, 
and that will keep the elevator sta¬ 
tionary while any doors leading into 
the shaft are open. 

Section 668. Whenever any eleva¬ 
tor shaft adjoins the outside walls 
of the building and windows are pro¬ 
vided in said wall opening into such 
shaft, all such windows shall be fire¬ 
proof or of wood with wire glass. 
Whenever windows are provided 
through the inside wall of any ele¬ 
vator shaft such windows shall be 
of wire glass set in metal frames. 

Section 669. The sides of all eleva¬ 
tor shafts containing the exits shall 
be free from dangerous projections 
and present as smooth and even a 
surface as practicable. The clearance 
between the car and platform and 
any part of the shaft or enclosure 
work shall not be less than %-inch 
and the clearance between the car 
platform and the part of the shaft 
in front of the exits shall not be 
more than iy 2 inches. 

Materials shall not be stored in any 
elevator shafts. 

Section. 670. Every passenger ele¬ 
vator shall have an enclosed cage at 
least 6 feet 6 inches high, built of 
metal, metal grill, wire glass, or 
combination of them. There shall 
be a solid canopy top, and a solid 
wainscot not less than 3 feet 6 inches 
high. There shall not be more than 
one doorway unless approved by the 
Superintendent of Buildings and con¬ 
firmed by the Board of Appeals, and 
unless the doorways are provided 
with gates so arranged that when one 
is opened the other will close. In no 
case shall there be more than two 
doors. 

In every automatic passenger ele¬ 
vator the doorway in the cage shall 
be equipped with a door so arranged 
that it will keep the elevator sta¬ 
tionary while such door is open. 

When the mesh or openings through 
the grillework of any passenger car 
exceeds l x k inches in their least di¬ 
mension and such grillework is placed 
within 4 inches of any movable parts 
in the shaft, then such grillework 
shall be covered with sheet metal or 
a wire screen having a mesh not ex¬ 
ceeding % inch in its greatest di¬ 
mension. 


Section 671. No freight elevator 
shall be constructed with openings 
on more than two sides of the plat¬ 
form. Cars of all freight elevators 
shall be substantially enclosed with 
not less than No. 10 gauge, 1^4-inch 
wire mesh extending to a height of 
6 feet 0 inches on all sides, except 
on sides facing loading platforms. 

The attachment known as “Bag¬ 
gage Crate” shall not be constructed 
as a part of any elevator. 

Section 672. Cables on all eleva¬ 
tors should be sufficient, both in size 
and number, to carry safely the load 
such elevators are designed to carry. 

Elevator shall have not less than 
two cables. 

Every cable hoisted passenger ele¬ 
vator shall have at least four cables. 
Every passenger elevator of the 
“drum” type carrying more than 1,500- 
pounds live load shall be provided 
with at least six cables. No hoist¬ 
ing counterweight cables on any ele¬ 
vator having a live load capacity of 
more than 1,500 pounds, excepting 
those for hand power elevators, shall 
be of less size than *4-inch in di¬ 
ameter. 

Section 673. Passenger elevators 
shall be designed to carry safely a 
live load of not less than 75 pounds 
per square foot of floor area in the 
car. 

Passenger elevators shall be lim¬ 
ited to carry one person to each 
square feet of floor space in the car- 
after allowing four square feet for 
the operator. 

No passenger elevator shall have a 
platform in which the available 
standing room is greater than that 
determined by the rated capacity of 
the engine. In hospitals and tene¬ 
ments or apartment houses the avail¬ 
able room may be increased for the 
handling of large furniture, provided 
the available standing room when 
used by passengers is maintained as 
above required by the installation of 
a hinged and locked seat or similar 
approved device, and provided the. 
weight of such furniture does not 
exceed the maximum weight allowed, 
for passengers. 

Section 674. The cables used on 
all passenger elevators shall be fig¬ 
ured with a safety factor of 8. 
Cables used on all freight elevators 
shall be figured with a safety factor 
of 6. 

All cables of the same group shall 
be so installed and equipped as to 
bring an equal strain on each of said 
cables. 

Section 675. All elevator Installa¬ 
tions which have the machinery over¬ 
head shall have steel beams to carry 
the sheaves and the machines. 

Every wall, beam, girder and col¬ 
umn used for the support of elevator 
sheaves or other elevator machinery 
shall be made strong enough to carry 
double the amount of the live and 
dead loads of the elevator and its 
machinery supported thereon without 
exceeding the safe unit stresses speci¬ 
fied in this Code. All parts of the 
machinery of the elevator and ap¬ 
purtenances thereof, upon which the 
safety of the operation of the eleva¬ 
tor depends, shall be likewise pro¬ 
portioned. The horizontal supports 
and the uprights upon which the 
elevator machinery and sheave beam& 










:86 


The Building Code 


are carried, shall be of steel or iron, 
brick or concrete. 

Section 676. There shall be pro¬ 
vided clear headroom of at least 3 
feet 0 inches for every passenger 
elevator and at least 2 feet 0 inches 
fo revery freight elevator between 
the top of the highest point of the 
car or platform framework and the 
overhead beams when the elevator 
is at the highest landing of its travel. 
Provided, however, that wherever the 
speed of any passenger elevator ex¬ 
ceeds 300 feet 0 inches per minute 
or the speed of any freight elevator 
exceeds 100 feet 0 inches per minute, 
the clear headroom shall be 4 feet 0 
Inches. 

Section 677. When the elevator 
machinery is placed at the top of the 
shaft there shall be provided a tight 
and substantial floor over the beams 
(beneath the machine so as to prevent 
■danger from falling articles; or a sub¬ 
stantial iron grating or grille suffi¬ 
ciently strong to carry safely a man, 
shall be placed underneath the ma¬ 
chine. 

Section 678. Every passenger ele¬ 
vator shall have steel guide rails. 
All steel guide rails shall be fastened 
at least every 12 feet 0 inches in 
height or reinforced if the fasten¬ 
ings are more than 12 feet 0 inches 
apart. When guide rails of wood 
are permitted, they shall be so bolted 
together' as to form a continuous 
post well supported and of ample 
strength. All guide rails shall have 
foundations designed to take the 
maximum emergency load. 

Section 679. Every elevator shaft 
/shall be provided with a pit the full 
size of the shaft and at least 3 feet 
0 inches in depth below the bottom 
of the car or platform when such car 
or platform is on a level with the 
lowest landing of the shaft. Provided 
that where any elevator is installed 
the speed of which exceeds 300 feet 
*0 inches per minute, a pit of at least 
4 feet 0 inches in depth shall be con¬ 
structed. 

Section 680. Every passenger ele¬ 
vator shall be fully equipped with 
-efficient devices for safely stopping 
the car in case of accident to the 
.cables or machinery. 

Worm gear machines shall be pro¬ 
vided with automatic stop and slack 
■ cable shifters. 

Every electric passenger elevator 
shall have a safety switch located in 
the car to enable the operator to cut 
■off the current supply in the motor 
in case of necessity. Every electric 
passenger elevator shall be equipped 
with an automatic car safety device 
mounted underneath the platform and 
■connected to an automatic speed gov¬ 
ernor at the top of the shaft; with 
a safety brake and stop motion de¬ 
vice on the machine; with limit 
.switches in the shaft which auto¬ 
matically stop the engine when the 
■car reaches the upper or lower limits 
of travel. Every drum type electric 
passenger elevator engine shall be 
•equipped with a slack cable device to 
stop the machine in case the car 
meets an obstruction when descend¬ 
ing or when the cables become loose 
•or slack from any other cause, and 
.such slack cable device must be so 
arranged as to make it necessary to 
reset it at the machine. 

Every hydraulic elevator shall be 


equipped with an automatic device 
for stopping the car at the upper 
and lower limits of travel, and every 
hydraulic machine other than those 
of the Plunger Type shall be equipped 
with an automatic car safety device 
mounted underneath the platform, 
the same as herein required for elec¬ 
tric machines. 

Every passenger elevator hereafter 
altered shall be provided with a de¬ 
vice to prevent the falling of the 
car in case of failure or disarrange¬ 
ment of the machinery and when 
practicable the Superintendent of 
Buildings may require the installa¬ 
tion of such other safety devices as 
are herein required for new elevator 
installations. 

Section 681. Every passenger ele¬ 
vator shall be provided with a safety 
device that will cause the car to come 
to a gradual stop 6 feet 0 inches to 
12 feet 0 inches after the safety de¬ 
vice starts to operate. An increase 
of not more than 50 per cent, in the 
velocity of the car beyond its fixed 
normal velocity shall operate the 
safety device., 

Section 682. Substantial bumpers 
of elastic materials shall be placed 
at the bottom of all passenger eleva¬ 
tor shafts except in shafts designed 
for plunger elevators. Such bumpers 
shall be of such height as to pre¬ 
vent the safety device under the car 
platform from striking the bottom 
of the pit when the car rests on the 
bumpers. 

Section 683. Every freight elevator 
having a run of more than one story 
and having a hand rope control shall 
be equipped with a hand rope locking 
device so that the elevator cannot 
be started from any floor except the 
floor at which the elevator is stand¬ 
ing. 

Section 684. It shall be the duty 
of the owner or agent of any elevator 
installation to notify the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings when such in¬ 
stallation is completed and ready for 
test or inspection. The contractor 
installing the elevator machinery 
shall prepare for such test and in¬ 
spection of the installation as herein¬ 
after required without expense to the 
city. 

Section, 685. Elevator installations 
hereafter built or materially altered 
shall not be put into service until 
after the same shall have been tested 
and approved by the Superintendent 
of Buildings. 

Section 686. It shall be the duty 
of the Superintendent of Buildings 
at least once in every twelve months 
to have made by a practical elevator 
inspector an examination of every 
passenger elevator that is not in¬ 
spected by a liability company in 
good standing. The Superintendent 
of Buildings may require the owner 
or agent of any elevator to examine 
the same and make a report of its 
condition to the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Section 687. Whenever any eleva¬ 
tor or part thereof is found by the 
Superintendent of Buildings to be 
unsafe, he shall close such elevator 
from service, and may disconnect the 
power supply from such elevator. It 
shall be unlawful for any person to 
put such elevator so condemned into 
service until after all defects per- 




The Building Code 


ST 


tabling thereto shall have been reme¬ 
died and the elevator reinspected. 

Reinspection and approval or dis¬ 
approval shall not be delayed more 
than six hours after notice is received 
at the office of the Superintendent of 
Buildings that such elevator is ready 
for inspection. 

Section 688. Every passenger ele¬ 
vator shall be tested at full speed 
going up and coming down while car- 
-ying the maximum load allowed. 

Every passenger elevator shall be 
tested by reversing at full speed go¬ 
ing up and down without live load. 
Every passenger elevator shall be 
tested by running at full speed into 
top and bottom limit switches with¬ 
out live load. 

Every passenger elevator shall be 
tested by cutting it loose and allow¬ 
ing it to drop. An increase of not 
more than 50 per cent, in the velocity 
of the car beyond its fixed normal 
velocity shall operate the safety de¬ 
vice and gradually bring the car to 
a stop within 6 feet 0 inches to 12 
feet 0 inches after the safety device 
starts to operate. 

Any other reasonable tests neces¬ 
sary to determine whether any ele¬ 
vator installation complies with the 
requirements herein prescribed may 
be required by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Section 689. Every elevator and all 
equipment connected therewith shall 
be so installed and proper room shall 
be so provided around the same as 
will permit of the proper care and 
inspection of said elevator and equip¬ 
ment. Every pent house shall be 


provided with a door giving access 
from the roof. 

Section 690. Passenger elevators 
shall be used for passengers only, 
except as herein provided. Combina- 
tion passenger and freight elevators, 
commonly known as “Service Eleva¬ 
tors,” shall not be used for carry¬ 
ing passengers unless such elevators 
are provided with an enclosed cage 
as required for passenger elevators 
and are equipped with all the safety 
devices required for passenger ele¬ 
vators. Such combination freight 
and passenger elevators may have- 
two openings if one opening is so ar¬ 
ranged that it must be fastened shut- 
before the elevator can be started, 
but in such case the opening to bo¬ 
used by passengers shall be on one- 
side of the elevator only, except as 
otherwise provided for passenger 
elevator cabs. 

Freight elevators not exceeding a* 
speed of 100 feet 0 inches per minute 
may be used to carry a few employes, 
at a time and an occasional passenger, 
under such regulations as the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings may prescribe. 

Section 691. During the erection of 
a building the elevators may be used 
as construction elevators, provided 
they are good, safe and sufficient for 
such purposes, and provided they are 
protected on every floor with a sub¬ 
stantial fence 5 feet 0 inches high, 
with proper gates. 

Section 692. No person under 16- 
years of age shall operate any pas¬ 
senger elevator and no owner or agent, 
shall employ or permit any person 
under the age of 16 years to operate- 
any passenger elevator. 


PART 7 LIGHT AND VENTILATION 


Section 701. No apartment shall 
contain less than two (2) rooms, ex¬ 
clusive of rooms containing bath or 
water-closet. One (1) of the two (2) 
rooms shall have a floor area of not 
less than one hundred twenty (120) 
square feet. 

No other room in any apartment 
except bathrooms, toilet rooms, pan- 
tries, kitchens, reception halls, 
closets and sleeping porches, shall 
contain less than eighty (80) square 
feet of floor area. Every sleeping 
room designed for the accommodation 
of more than one (1) person shall 
contain not less than five hundred 
twelve (512) cubic feet of air space 


for such person over fourteen (14> 
years of age and not less than three 
hundred (300) cubic feet of air space 
for each child under fourteen (14> 
years of age. 

Section 702. Habitable rooms irs 
places of habitation, refuge and de¬ 
tention other than residences shall 
not be less than eight feet, no inchest 
(8 ft. 0 in.) in height from floor to 
ceiling. 

Section 703. No part of any habi¬ 
table room in any place of habitation,, 
refuge or detention, other than resi¬ 
dences, shall be enclosed or subdi¬ 
vided at any time as an alcove sleep¬ 
ing room unless such part of the 


BOWLES COMPANY 

— Plumbing and Steam Supplies — 

101-3-5 JACKSON STREET 


J 


EL iot 3504 


Seattle, Wash. 
















88 


The Building Code 


room so enclosed or subdivided shall 
have an unobstructed and permanent 
opening into it equal to seventy-five 
per cent. (75%) of the floor area of 
such part or unless such part of the 
room is provided with the floor area, 
window area and volume of air else¬ 
where required. 

Section 704. No sleeping room or 
living room in any place of habita¬ 
tion, refuge or detention shall here¬ 
after be built or located in a cellar. 
.Every such room in a cellar now 
used as a sleeping room or living 
room shall immediately cease to be 
so used, except that such rooms now 
legally so used may continue to be 
so used by adults only, provided such 
rooms are not more than two-thirds 
(2/3) of their height below grade 
level and provided such rooms have a 
total free window area of not less 
than one-tenth (1/10) of their floor 
area. 

No such sleeping room or living 
room shall be located in any part of 
a basement unless the adjoining and 
enclosing walls and floor of such part 
shall be rendered damp-proof. 

Section 705. In places of habitation, 
refuge or detention, other than resi¬ 
dences, the total free window area of 
each habitable room requiring natural 
light shall be equal to at least one- 
eighth ( y 8 ) of the floor area of such 
room and shall be not less than 
twelve (12) square feet in rooms 
other than kitchens, and shall be so 
located as to properly light all parts 
of the room. The top of at least one 
(1) window in every room shall be 
not less than seven (7) feet above the 
floor and all required windows shall 
foe so constructed that at least forty- 
five per cent. (45%) of the window 
j.area may be open at one time. 

Section 706. Every building or sep¬ 
arate part thereof in which people 
congregate, live, sleep or work must 
have a room or rooms constructed 
therein for the enclosing of one (1) 
*or more water closets. 

Except where every room or suite 
iOf rooms has its own water-closet 
accommodations there shall be con¬ 
structed on every floor used for 
sleeping purposes in hotels, clubs, 
lodging houses, dormitories, places of 
refuge and places of detention, a 
»toilet room or rooms for the inde¬ 
pendent use of each sex occupying 
,aaid floor and of sufficient size to 
.accommodate two (2) water-closets 
for the first twenty-four (24) single 
beds, their equivalent or fraction 
thereof, and an additional water-closet 
for each additional twelve (12) single 
beds, their equivalent or fraction 
thereof located on the floor. 

In every place of habitation oc¬ 
cupied by one (1) or more families 
there shall be constructed within each 
space occupied by one (1) family a 
room or rooms designed to contain at 
least one (1) water-closet and one 
(1) bath tub or shower bath for the 
exclusive use of said family. 

Section 707. All doors giving ac¬ 
cess to rooms containing water- 
closets shall be self-closing except 
where the room is for the exclusive 
use of one (1) family. 

Rooms in which water-closets or 
urinals are located shall be separated 
from all other rooms by a substan¬ 
tial enclosure containing no openings 
into adjoining rooms or hallways, ex¬ 


cept the door provided for entrance 
to toilet room; provided, however, 
that this shall not be considered to 
prevent the use of stationary win¬ 
dows for lighting purposes in said 
enclosure. 

Rooms in which water-closets are 
located in restaurants or places where 
food or confectionery is prepared, 
concocted or manufactured for public 
consumption or for sale, must not 
open directly into any room where 
such work is being carried on. 

Section 708. Every room contain¬ 
ing one (1) or more water-closets or 
urinals shall be ventilated either by 
windows opening to the outer air, by 
an individual vent duct or by a 
mechanical ventilating system in¬ 
stalled and operated in accordance 
with all the provisions of the ordi¬ 
nances of the City of Seattle pertain¬ 
ing thereto. 

"Windows for ventilating rooms con¬ 
taining water-closets or urinals shall 
not be less than one (1) foot in least 
dimension, nor less than three (3) 
square feet in area, nor smaller than 
one-eighth (%) of the floor area of 
the rooms ventilated thereby, and so 
constructed that at least forty-five 
(45%) per cent, of the window area 
may be left open. 

Where individual vent ducts are 
used for ventilating water-closets or 
urinal rooms they shall be construct¬ 
ed of galvanized iron, encased in fire- 
resisting material as elsewhere here¬ 
in required for ducts, and, except as 
otherwise herein provided, shall ex¬ 
tend independently from the room to 
and above the roof. The unobstructed 
cross-sectional area of such a duct, 
and of any grillage at the opening 
thereof, shall be at least equal to two 
(2) square inohes for each square 
foot of floor area in the room which 
It ventilates, except that in no case 
shall it be smaller than forty-eight 
(48) square inches. 

Section 709. Every bed-pocket or 
bed-closet shall be ventilated by an 
exterior window or by an individual 
vent duct constructed of galvanized 
iron, encased in fire resisting material 
as elsewhere herein required for 
ducts, and extending from the bed 
pocket to and through the roof. Such 
ducts shall have a cross-sectional 
area of not less than forty-eight (48) 
square inches. 

Section 710. All vent ducts serv¬ 
ing bed-pockets, bed-closets, or rooms 
containing water-closets or urinals 
shall be vertical or as nearly vertical 
as is necessary to provide adequate 
ventilation in the room served. Such 
ducts shall be carried individually to 
not less than two (2) feet above the 
roof, or they may be joined together 
immediately below the roof, forming 
a common duct, provided said com¬ 
mon duct has an area at least equal 
to all ducts entering therein and ex¬ 
tends at least two (2) feet above the 
roof. 

Section 711. Every apartment in 
which gas is burned for purposes 
other than lighting shall be provided 
with a chimney constructed as else¬ 
where herein required, or with one 
(1) or more sheet metal gas ventilat¬ 
ing ducts so located that all heating 
devices, the ovens on gas ranges and 
any hoods that may be placed over 
ranges or plates may be connected 
thereto. 




The Building Code 


8ft 



l Hot 
Water 
Instantly 


No Waiting 
When You Havea 


0FFM4 

Automatic 

Water 

Heater 


SEATTLE LIGHTING CO. 

1308 FOURTH AVE. MA In 6767 

THE GAS CO. 










The Building Code 


SO 

Such ducts shall be constructed and 
■encased as elsewhere herein required. 
Each duct shall have an area of not 
less than twelve (12) square inches. 
Four (4), and not more, ducts may be 
connected together provided the duct 
into which they enter has a cross- 
sectional area equal to that of all 
ducts entering same. Any number of 
ducts may be joined together im¬ 
mediately below the roof of a build- 


Places of habitation and refuge 
except residences, hotels and 
clubs ... 

Clubs, hotels, office buildings, 
places of detention, factories and 
workshops . 


ing, provided the duct area is not 
reduced. 

All gas ventilating ducts shall be 
carried to at least two (2) feet above 
the roof and to such an elevation 
that no combustible material will be 
within two (2) feet of same. 

Section 712. Vent shafts shall not 
be considered as part of the unoc¬ 
cupied court area of the lot, but may 
■be used for the ventilating of rooms 
containing water-closets, urinals, slop 
sinks or baths, and when so used they 
shall contain no openings into rooms 
used for any other purpose. Except 
as herein otherwise provided, vent 
shafts may also be used for the ven¬ 
tilation of other rooms or for the 
lighting of rooms not herein required 
to be provided with natural light. 

Vent shafts shall not be covered 
nor shall they be permitted to con¬ 
tain shelving or other obstructions. 

When a vent shaft is used to sup¬ 
ply fresh air to rooms containing 
water-closets or urinals it shall have 
a minimum cross-sectional area of 
•one-twentieth (1/20) of the floor area 
of all rooms ventilated thereby ex- 
.cept that when the vent shaft is 
located in a building or a part there¬ 
of occupied as a place of habitation, 
refuge or detention, the shaft shall 
have a minimum cross-sectional area 
of one-tenth (1/10) of the floor area 
■of all rooms ventilated thereby. Pro¬ 
vided, that no vent shaft shall be 
smaller than five feet, no inches (5 
ft. 0 in.) in least dimension. 

Section 713. Good and ample light, 
air and ventilation shall be provided 
for every building, and such light, 
air and ventilation shall be fully suf¬ 
ficient for the occupants and users 
thereof. 

Rooms occupied as offices, work¬ 
shops, factories and other rooms of 
like requirements for light, air and 
ventilation, shall be lighted with nat¬ 
ural light through a ceiling or 
through an outside wall by windows 
facing a street, alley or court. Where 
courts are used as a required source 
of light or air they shall not be 
smaller than elsewhere required 
herein. 

The height of courts shall be 
measured from the mean elevation of 
the adjacent court walls of the build¬ 
ing which the court serves to the 


floor level of the lowest room used 
for the occupancy which establishes 
the court width, provided said room 
depends upon the court for its light 
and ventilation. 

Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, the width of courts shall not 
be less than indicated in the follow¬ 
ing table: provided, however, that no 
interior court shall be less than six 
(6) feet in width, no exterior court 
less than five (5) feet in width. 


Minimum Width 
of Interior 
Courts 

Percentage of 
Court Height 


Minimum Width 
of Exterior 
Courts 

Percentage of 
Court Height 


25% 


20 % 


. 20% 15% 

When the length of an interior 
court exceeds the minimum width 
permitted above for such court by a 
distance equal to the height of the 
court, then the width may be the 
same as herein required for exterior 
courts; should the length exceed the 
above specified minimum width, but 
not be equal to the sum of it and the 
height of the court, a proportionate 
reduction in width will be permitted. 

Fire escapes shall not be consid¬ 
ered as obstructions to the area of 
courts, provided such courts and fire 
escapes fulfill the uses for which they 
are intended. 

Section 714. Any story which ia 
used for any occupancy mentioned in 
the following table, shall be prcvided 
with a court or courts having a total 
area of not less than the percentage 
of lot indicated for said respective oc¬ 
cupancy. 

If, however, more than three (3) 
floors of any building are used for an 
occupancy mentioned in the following 
table and requiring a court, then the 
area of said court or courts shall be 
increased throughout by an amount 
which is equal to two (2%) per cent, 
of the area of the lot for each story 
in excess of three (3) that is used 
for the occupancy necessitating said 
court. 

Provided that above a height of one 
hundred twenty-five (125) feet, and 
below a height of two and one-half 
(2 y 2 ) times the width of the widest 
street upon which the building abuts, 
the additional court area of two (2%) 
per cent, per floor need not be car¬ 
ried down to the bottom of the court, 
if the court area at any story level 
above said height is at least equal to 
the court area called for in the table 
below, plus an additional two (2%) 
per cent, of the area of the lot for 
each floor in excess of three (3) that 
is used for the occupancy necessi¬ 
tating said court. 

For the purpose of determining 
the required size of courts no corner 
I lot shall be considered to be more 
than sixty (60) feet in width. When 
two (2) or more narrower lots, one 
(1) being located on a corner, have a 
total width of sixty (60) feet or more 
and are built upon as a unit of prop¬ 
erty, a width of sixty (60) feet may 
be considered as a corner lot, for the 
purpose of determining court areas. 










The Building Code 


9£ 


f 


r 

i 


Lots surrounded by thoroughfares . . 

Corner Lots on 3 streets . 

Corner Lots—2 streets and an alley . 

Corner Lots on 2 streets . 

Lots on corner of 1 street and 1 alley, 
with greater frontage on street . . . 
Lots on corner of 1 street and 1 alley, 
with frontage on street and alley 

equal. 

Lots on corner of 1 street and 1 alley, 
but with greater frontage on alley . 

Inside Lots on 2 streets. 

Inside Lots on 1 street and an alley 
Inside Lot on 1 street. 


Places of 
Refuge and 1 

Places of 


Habitation 

Hotels, 


except 

Clubs and 


Hotels and 

Places of 

Office 

Clubs. 

Detention. 

Buildings, 

0% 

0% 

0% 

13% 

8% 

3% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

17% 

12% 

7% 

19% 

14% 

9% , 

20% 

15% 

10% 

21% 

16% 

11% 

23% 

18% 

13% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

27% 

22% 

17% 


Section 715. No building shall ex¬ 
ceed a height of two and one-half 
(2 y 2 ) times the width of the widest 
street on which the building abuts, 
except that towers for occupancy may 
be erected above said height, if they 
are at least twenty-five (25) feet 
from any lot line other than a street 
line; if they do not exceed an area 
of twenty-five (25%) per cent, of 


the lot area; and if they do not ex¬ 
ceed sixty (60) feet in length or 
breadth. 

Workshops and factories, other 
than feed or flour mills, shall not 
exceed a height of eighty-five (85) 
feet. Stores, warehouses and stor¬ 
age garages shall not exceed a height 
of one hundred twenty-five (125) feet. 


PART 8 PLACE OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY 


Section 801. Places of public as¬ 
sembly shall include all buildings 
and parts of buildings used for the 
purposes herein defined under the 
several terms: Churches, Public As¬ 
sembly Halls, Amusement Halls, The¬ 
atres, Moving Picture Theatres and 
Schools. Places of Public Assembly 
shall comply with the general struc¬ 
tural provisions of this Code and the 
special provisions contained in this 
Part. 

Every place of public assembly 
shall have at least one means of 
egress on a public street. 

The term exit applies to any door¬ 
way or other opening in the outer 
walls of a place of Public Assembly 
through which people may pass out, 
and is to be understood as including 
entrances. 

Section 802. The term church used 
in this Code shall include every build¬ 
ing used as a church or place of pub¬ 
lic worship. Churches shall conform 
to the requirements for buildings in 
the several districts. They shall also 
conform to the provisions relating to 
Public Assembly Halls in so far as 
the same are applicable, except as 
provided in the following section. 

Section 803. Churches with seat¬ 
ing capacity for not over 750 persons 
are not specially limited as to class 
of construction, otherwise than pro¬ 
vided in the preceding section. 

Every church having a seating ca¬ 
pacity of more than 750 and less than 
1,750 shall be built of fireproof or 
mill construction. 

Every church having a seating ca¬ 
pacity of more than 750 and less than 
1,750 persons shall be built of fire¬ 
proof construction, except that roofs 
may be constructed as required for 
school buildings. 

In computing the seating capacity 
of church pews an allowance of 20 
inches of the pew length shall be 
made for each person. 

Section 804. The term Public As¬ 
sembly Hall shall include every parish 


■ hall, lodge hall, dance hall, banquet 
hall, skating rink, hall used for ex¬ 
position, exhibition or place of as¬ 
semblage or instruction other than a 
school as elsewhere defined, excepting 
such places as are included in the 
term Amusement Hall hereafter de¬ 
fined; provided that rooms used for 
assemblages of less than 100 persons 
shall not be regarded as Public As¬ 
sembly Halls. 

Such rooms and all Public Assem¬ 
bly Halls shall be provided with good 
and sufficient air and means of 
egress. 

Section 805. No existing building, 
other than of fireproof construction, 
shall be connected to any Public As¬ 
sembly Hall now existing or here¬ 
after constructed with seating capa¬ 
city for more than 250 persons unless 
there be, between such buildings, a 
fireproof wall extending from the 
ground to and through the roof. 

In all such cases, each opening in 
the intervening wall shall be fitted 
with a substantial door, closed by a 
strong spring or equivalent closing 
device and kept closed when a person 
is not passing through. In addition, 
each said opening shall be equipped 
with an approved automatic firedoor, 
all as approved by the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings. 

Section 806. No part of an exist¬ 
ing building, other than of fireproof 
construction, shall be used for a pub¬ 
lic Assembly Hall with seating ca¬ 
pacity for more than 250 persons un¬ 
less such part is separated from all 
portions of the same building usedi 
for other purposes by a fireproof wall 
extending from the ground through' 
the roof and unless all openings in 
such firewall are equipped with ap¬ 
proved automatic double fire doors, 
in which case such other portions 
may be constructed in the manner 
permitted for separate buildings of 
such class. 

Section 807. Every building here¬ 
after erected, containing a Public As- 











Tile Building Code 


$2 


sembly Hall or halls of an aggregate 
seating capacity of more than 500 
and not more than 1,500 persons shall 
be built of fireproof or mill construc¬ 
tion. 

If an assembly hall or halls in any 
building have a total seating capacity 
of more than 1,500 persons such 
building shall be built of fireproof 
construction; provided, that buildings 
mainly used for exposition or exhi¬ 
bition purposes, and not used for 
theatrical purposes, and not exceed¬ 
ing 2 stories in height which have 
for public use only a main floor and 
one gallery and which have their 
walls and structural members of in¬ 
combustible material and which com¬ 
ply with the provisions of the Code 
as to stairways, exits, and fire es¬ 
capes, may have their temporary 
seats, boxes, show cases, platforms 
or booths constructed of combustible 
material; provided, however, that any 
and all draperies, bunting, or other 
inflamable decorations shall be treat¬ 
ed with a fire-retarding solution, sub¬ 
ject to the approval of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings. 

Section 808. In computing, the 
seating capacity of any room or 
building used for Public Assembly 
Halls in which the seats are not fixed, 
an allowance of 6 square feet of floor 
area shall be made for each person, 
and all space between the walls or 
partitions of such room or building 
shall be measured in this computa¬ 
tion. Provided, that in buildings 
standing at least 7'0" from any other 
building and not having more than 
2 stories and each floor having its 
own separate exits, the seating ca¬ 
pacity of each floor shall be esti¬ 
mated alone as determining the kind 
•of construction required. 

Moveable seats are not permitted 
in balconies and galleries having 
stepped floors. 

Section. 809. Every building con¬ 
taining a Public Assembly Hall or 
halls of an aggregate seating capa¬ 
city of 750 persons or less, shall have 
a frontage upon 2 public spaces, of 
which at least one shall be a street, 
and the other, if not a street, shall 
be a public or private alley, not less 
than 10'0" wide, opening directly on 
a public street or alley. 

Every building containing a Public 
Assembly Hall or halls of greater ag¬ 
gregate seating capacity than 750 
shall have a frontage upon 3 open 
spaces, of which at least one shall be 
a public street, while the other 2, if 
not streets, shall be public or private 
.alleys of a width of not less than 
10'0" each, opening directly on a pub¬ 
lic street or alley; provided that a 
fireproof passageway at grade level, 
and, not less than 7'0" in width may 
be used in place of one such alley, if 
such passageway connects with a 
public thoroughfare. 

Section 810. The limitations of 
floor levels in buildings hereafter 
erected, occupied either wholly or in 
part for the purposes of Public As¬ 
sembly Halls, shall be as follows: 

No auditorium of a greater seating 
capacity than 1,000 shall have the 
highest part of its main floor at a 
greater distance than 15'0" above the 
average grade of adjacent streets and 
alleys, nor more than lO'O" above the 
grade at main entrance. 

No room or rooms having a greater 


seating capacity than 500 shall be 
at a greater distance above aver¬ 
age grade than 25'0" nor more than 
20'0" above the grade at main en¬ 
trance. 

No room or rooms used for the pur¬ 
poses of Public Assembly Halls hav¬ 
ing a greater seating capacity than 
250 shall be at a higher level above 
the average grade than 35'0" nor 
more than 30'0" above the grade at 
main entrance; provided, however, 
that in the case of a building used 
either wholly or in part for the pur¬ 
pose of Public Assembly Halls, and 
built of fireproof construction, a room 
or rooms to be used for such pur¬ 
poses, and of an aggregate seating 
capacity of less than 500 may be lo¬ 
cated in any story thereof; but in 
such case, there shall be at leas-t 2 
separate and distinct flights of stairs 
from the floor or floors in which such 
room or rooms are located, to the 
ground, each of which stairs shall 
be not less than 4'0" wide in the 
clear and such floor or floors shall 
be equipped with emergency exit 
doorways, and have not less than one 
stairway fire escape. 

In buildings of fireproof construc¬ 
tion, banquet halls or ball rooms hav¬ 
ing a seating capacity of not more 
than 900 may be located on any floor. 
Such banquet halls or ball rooms 
shall have access to at least 2 inte¬ 
rior stairways and not less than one 
stairway fire escape, the combined 
width of which shall be equal to at 
least 18 inches for each 100 persons 
for whom accommodations are pro¬ 
vided in said banquet hall or ball 
room. 

Section 811. Every Public Assem¬ 
bly Hall shall have at least 2 inde¬ 
pendent exits located as far apart as 
practicable. The combined width of 
exits shall be not less than 18 inches 
fo reach 100 persons of the aggregate 
seating capacity, and for fractional 
parts of 100 a proportionate part of 
18 inches shall be added; provided 
the main entrance in halls with seat¬ 
ing capacity exceeding 250 shall not 
be less than 5'0" wide, and no exit 
doorway shall be less than 4'0" wide. 

If the seating capacity is 500 or 
more there must be at least two 
5'0" exits, and if the seating capacity 
is 700 or more there must be at least 
one additional independent exit. 

Section 812. Distinct and separate 
places of exit and entrance in Public 
Assembly Halls shall be provided for 
each gallery. A common place of exit 
and entrance may serve for the main 
floor of the auditorium and the bal¬ 
cony, provided its capacity be equal 
to the aggregate required capacity of 
all aisles or corridors leading from 
the main floor and such balcony to 
such place of exit and entrance. 

Section 813. Any room or rooms 
used for the purposes of Public As¬ 
sembly Halls, having a seating ca¬ 
pacity of more than 500, shall, if not 
at grade level, have emergency exits 
and outside stairs for same equal in 
width to Y 2 of the exits required for 
the main exits, and such emergency 
exits shall lead directly to a public 
thoroughfare. 

Doors leading to emergency exits 
shall not be less than 3'0" wide and 
emergency stairways shall not be 
less than 4'0" wide. Such emergency 
exits and stairways may be built in- 







The Building Code 


93 


eide the walls of such building of a 
width not less than 4'0", provided 
they are enclosed by a fireproof par¬ 
tition not less than 4 inches thick; 
and further provided, that the stairs 
themselves are constructed of incom¬ 
bustible material. Emergency stair¬ 
ways may descend into open spaces 
or passageways, provided they do not 
obstruct more than *4 of the width 
of such open spaces or passageways. 
All emergeny exits, stairs and pas¬ 
sages must be kept free from ob¬ 
struction of any kind. 

Section 814. The width of corri¬ 
dors, passageways, hallways and 
doors adjacent to, connected with or 
a part of any room used for the pur¬ 
poses of a Public Assembly Hall shall 
be computed in the same manner as 
is herein provided for aisles, except¬ 
ing, however, that no such corridor, 
passageway or hallway shall be less 
than 6'0" in width, and no such door¬ 
way shall be less than 5'0" in width. 

All doors affording access directly 
or indirectly to the street, alley or 
corridor from any room used for the 
puropse of Public Assembly Hall 
shall open outward. 

Exit doors shall not be obstructed 
by draperies, and during the time 
any such room or rooms are open 
to the public, said doors shall not be 
locked or fastened in any manner so 
as to prevent them from being easily 
opened outwardly; and such doors 
shall be constructed and maintained 
so as to require no special knowledge 
or effort to open them from the in¬ 
terior. 

Section 815. Aisles in any room 
used for the purposes of a Public As¬ 
sembly Hall shall have in the aggre¬ 
gate a width of 18 inches for each 
100 of the seating capacity of such 
room, and for fractional parts of 100 
a proporiionate part of 18 inches shall 
be added; but no aisle shall be in 
any part less than 2'6" wide. If aisles 
are widened toward the entrances at 
the ratio of 1% inch for each 5 run¬ 
ning feet, the aggregate width shall 


be considered to be the sum of the 
average width of all the aisles. 

Steps shall be permitted in aisles 
only as extending from bank to bank 
of seats, and whenever the rise from 
bank to bank of seats is less than 
5 inches, the floor of the aisle shall 
be made as an inclined plane, and 
where steps occur in outside aisles 
or corridors, they shall not be iso¬ 
lated, but shall be grouped together, 
and there shall be a light so placed 
as to illuminate such steps in such 
outside aisles or corridors. 

All aisles and passageways in and 
leading to churches and public as¬ 
sembly halls shall be kept free from 
chairs and all other furniture or ob¬ 
structions whether by persons or 
things during all services, perform¬ 
ances, exhibitions, lectures, concerts? 
balls or other public assemblages 
therein. 

Where there are emergency exits 
located at the sides of such rooms, 
there shall be a cross aisle giving 
access to such exits. The location 
of emergency exits and cross aisles 
shall be subject to the approval of 
the Superintendent of Buildings, 

Section 816. There shall be not 
more than 14 seats in any one row 
between aisles, and in a room or 
rooms used for the purposes of Pub¬ 
lic Assembly Halls, of a seating ca¬ 
pacity greater than 400 persons, 
there shall be an aisle on each side 
of any bank of seats where there are 
over 9 seats in a row. Rows of seats 
on any floor of any Public Assembly 
Hall shall not be less than 32 inches 
from back to back, measured hori¬ 
zontally, and no bank of seats shall 
be of a greater rise than 21 inches. 
All seats in galleries having plat¬ 
forms on inclined floors shall be 
firmly fixed to the floor. Moveable 
seats in rooms accommodating more 
than 400 persons shall be fastened 
together in banks of not less than S 
seats. 

Section 817. Gallery fronts, plat¬ 
forms for seats, and seating arrange¬ 
ments in balconies and galleries in 


-^ 

J. G. Maitland Phone MA in 1438 


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CO. 

112 Marion Street 


Wiring 

Armature Winding 
Bynames and Motors 
Electrical Construction 
--—- 


SEATTLE, WASH. 


j 


SUNSET ELECTRIC COMPANY, 

1507 BROADWAY. 

EA St 0160 

Ten Years’ Experience as Auto Electricians, 

OFFICIAL SERVICE. GENUINE PARTS, 


















94 


The Building Code 


Public Assembly Halls shall comply 
with the requirements for theaters 
except as otherwise approved by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 818. Every hall or room 
used for the purpose of a Public As¬ 
sembly Hall not at grade level shall 
have access to not less than 2 exit 
stairways. The combined width of 
stairways in buildings used wholly 
or in part for Public Assembly Halls 
shall be 18 inches for each 100 per¬ 
sons of the aggregate seating capa¬ 
city of all rooms used for such pur¬ 
poses in such building and for frac¬ 
tional parts of 100, a proportionate 
part of 18 inches shall be added; but 
no stairway in such building shall be 
less than 4 feet 0 inches wide in the 
clear; provided that in any such 
building having a room or rooms, 
balcony or gallery, used for the pur¬ 
pose of Public Assembly Halls the 
aggregate seating capacity of which 
does not exceed 250 persons, 2 sepa¬ 
rate and distinct stairways, each 3 
feet 0 inches wide, shall be required, 
and shall be located as far apart as 
practicable. 

Section 819. Every portion of a 
building used as a Public Assembly 
Hall and all outlets therefrom lead¬ 
ing to streets or spaces connected 
therewith, including the vestibules, 
halls, corridors, passageways and 
stairways, exits and fire escapes shall 
be properly lighted whenever such 
building is occupied, and the same 
shall be kept so lighted until the en¬ 
tire audience have left the premises; 
and every passageway, corridor, 
stairway and exit shall be provided 
with a sign indicating the way out 
of the building, the letters of which 
shall not be less than 6 inches in 
height. 

All lights indicating exits in vesti¬ 
bules, halls, passageways, corridors 
or other means of egress from the 
building shall be controlled by a sep¬ 
arate shut-off located near the main 
entrance, and controlled only in that 
particular place. 

A red light furnished by electric 
light on independent current shall be 
kept burning, in connection with the 
word “EXIT” over every such open¬ 
ing during the entire time such build¬ 
ing is occupied between sunset and 
sunrise, and whenever such word is 
not plainly visible by daylight. 

Flues used to carry off heat from 
open lights shall be of incombustible 
material and shall have at least 12 
inches of clearance from any com¬ 
bustible material. 

Section 820. Every public Assembly 
Hall with accommodations for 1,000 
or more persons shall be provided 


with at least one stand pipe and fire 
escape ladder on the outside of the 
building in a street or alley, extend¬ 
ing to the roof, with hose attachment 
close to a window or door at each 
floor or gallery. 

Section 821. No Public Assembly 
Hall shall be opened to the public 
until the same shall have been in¬ 
spected and found to comply with all 
the provisions of this Code in rela¬ 
tion thereto, and a permit for such 
opening shall have been issued by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 822. The term Amusement 
Hall shall apply to every room used 
for theatrical purposes, every lodge 
room, auditorium or Assembly Hall, 
having a seating capacity less than 
750 and having a curtain with a lim¬ 
ited amount of scenery and having 
not more than one balcony or gal¬ 
lery. Amusement Halls shall con¬ 
form to the provisions relating to 
Public Assembly Halls and to the 
following special requirements. 

Section 823. .All seats in Amuse¬ 
ment Halls shall be spaced as re¬ 
quired for theatres. If there is a 
balcony or gallery all seats in same 
must be securely fastened to the 
floor. In the main auditorium if the 
seats are not fastened to the floor 
they shall be fastened together in 
banks containing at least six seats 
each. 

Section 824. In any Amusement 
Hall, the area of the stage back of 
the proscenium wall shall not exceed 
1-5 the area of the auditorium and 
shall have no traps or movable sec¬ 
tions in the floor. 

Section 825. When the seating ca¬ 
pacity of any Amusement Hall is 
greater than 500, allowing 6 square 
feet of floor to the seat, the prosce¬ 
nium wall must be of brick or other 
equivalent masonry of the thickness 
as required elsewhere in this Code 
and shall extend at least 4 feet 0 
inches above the stage roof. When 
the seating capacity is less than 500 
the proscenium wall may be built 
of metal studs with metal lath and 
cement plaster at least y 2 inch in 
thickness on both sides. All allowed 
openings except the curtain opening, 
through the proscenium wall shall 
be protected by approved fireproof 
doors on each side. 

Section 826. The curtain in every 
Amusement Hall must be of asbes¬ 
tos, and shall be hung as required 
for theatres. All scenery, borders 
and wings, shall be permanent, and 
no transient scenery will be permit¬ 
ted unless approved by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings. All perma- 



FANS 

/on 

DRYING 

and 


VENTILATING Y CONVEYING 








The Building Code 


95 


nent scenery shall be painted with 
an approved fire resisting paint. 

Section 827. All dressing rooms in 
Amusement Halls unless fireproof 
shall be metal lathed and hard plas¬ 
tered and all stud partitions where 
permitted shall be fire stopped at 
least 3 times in their height, and all 
stud partitions adjoining the stage 
shall have metal lath and cement 
plaster on the stage side. All doors 
must be approved fire doors. 

Section 828. The fly galleries and 
rigging loft in every Amusement Hall 
must have steel supports but the 
floor itself may be of wood not less 
than 2 inches x 4 inches in dimen¬ 
sion, covered with fireproof paint or 
cold water paint. 

Section 829. The area of the stage 
skylight or smoke vents in every 
Amusement Hall shall be at least 1-20 
of the floor area of the stage and 
shall be equipped to open as required 
in theatres. 

Section 830. Proper natural or ar¬ 
tificial ventilation shall be provided 
for all Amusement Halls. 

Section 831. Every Amusement 
Hall shall have at least one 3-inch 
standpipe in the auditorium and one 
on the stage, with hose connections 
on every floor, gallery or gridiron, 
50 feet 0 inches of 1^-inch hose shall 
be provided for each outlet. All valve 
outlets shall be quick opening, and 
reducers and other fittings shall be 
standard. 

Section 832. The term Theatre 
shall apply to any building designed 
or used for the entertainment of 
spectators, for which an admission fee 
is charged, and having a permanent 
stage upon which movable scenery 
and theatrical apparatus is employed 
and having the space over stage ex¬ 
tend to a height of 5 feet 0 inches 
or more above the top of the prosce¬ 
nium arch. It shall include theatres, 
opera houses, music halls, play 
houses, pavilions, vaudeville shows 
and assembly halls which conform 
to this definition; provided, however, 
that club halls and other halls 
with a seating capacity of less than 
500, although occasionally used for 
theatrical presentation, shall not be 
considered as theatres within the 
meaning of the term as used in this 
section, notwithstanding the fact 
that movable scenery is used upon 
the stages thereof on such occasion. 
Such halls shall be regarded as Pub¬ 
lic Assembly Halls. 

Section 833. In any building con¬ 
taining a theatre, that portion not re¬ 
quired for the theatre may be used 
for other purposes not hereinafter 
prohibited if approved by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings, provided ma¬ 
sonry or other approved fireproof 
construction separates such portion 
of the buildings from the theatre. 
There shall be no openings through 
such fireproof construction except 
into a hall or corridor of a fireproof 
office building, and such openings 
shall be kept closed at all times!, 
when no one is passing through, by 
doors as prescribed for emergency 
exits. 

No portion of any theatre building 
hereafter erected or altered shall be J 
occupied as a place of habitation, j 
factory, workshop or for storage of j 
any article or material that is in¬ 
flammable or otherwise dangerous to i 


life except an approved by the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings. 

Section 834. Outside of tho First 
and Second Building Districts, every 
building hereafter erected or altered 
and containing a theatre not more 
than one story in height whose seat¬ 
ing capacity is less than 750, shall 
be of fireproof, mill or ordinary ma¬ 
sonry construction, and when not 
fireproof shall have all walls and 
ceilings covered with metal lath and 
cement plaster and all partitions fire¬ 
proof cr incombustible. The pro¬ 
scenium wall and stage and all rooms 
connected therewith or with the au¬ 
ditorium shall be of the construction 
hereinafter described. All aisles, 
passageways and exits must be good 
and sufficient and of such construc¬ 
tion as will meet with the approval 
of the Superintendent of Buildings: 

Theatres are not permitted in ordi 
nary masonry buildings within the 
First or Second Building District. 

Section 835. Outside of the First 
Building District, every building not 
more than one story in height above 
the established grade having no bal¬ 
cony or gallery and containing a the¬ 
atre whose sea rung capacity is 75@ 
and not over 1 bOO, shall be of fire¬ 
proof or mill construction. 

Everj' such theatre when not fire¬ 
proof shall have all interior walls, 
partitions ar.d ceiling lathed with 
metal lath and plastered with cement 
plaster. The stage, dressing rooms 
and all other rooms connected there¬ 
with or with the auditorium must be 
of fireproof construction. 

There shall be at least one exit on 
eaclTof three sides of such building. 
Each such exit shall open directly 
upon a street or alley or free open 
space not less than 10 feet 0 inches 
wide adjoining a public thoroughfare: 
or shall open into a fireproof passage¬ 
way or side court leading directly to 
such street, alley or free open space. 
Each exit and passageway shall bt> 
at least 5 feet 0 inches in width and 
the combined width of such exits 
shall be equal to not less than 2 feel 
0 inches for each 100 of seating ca¬ 
pacity of such theatre. 

Theatres are not permitted in mill 
buildings within the First Building 
District. 

Section 836. Every building here¬ 
after erected or altered and contain¬ 
ing a theatre whose seating capacity 
is 750 or more shall be fireproof ex¬ 
cept as hereinbefore provided. 

Section 837. Every theatre, if lo¬ 
cated over, under or adjoining any 
other room, must be separated there¬ 
from by fireproof floors and waifs 
which , have no openings through 
them connected with the theatre. 

Section 838. Every building here 
after erected used wholly or in part 
for the purposes of a theatre, shall 
have a frontage upon two public 
thoroughfares, one of which shall be 
a street and the other, if not a street, 
shall be a public alley not less than 
10 feet 0 inches in width. 

Section 839. The auditorium floor 
of every theatre shall be in the first 
or ground floor and as near the side¬ 
walk level as practicable. 

The main entrance shall be at side¬ 
walk level, and noi steps from the 
auditorium entrance to the audito¬ 
rium floor will be permitted. 









96 


The Building Code 


To overcome any difference in level 
between courts, corridors, lobbies, 
passageways, auditorium and aisles 
on the ground floor, gradients of not 
over one to eight with no perpendic¬ 
ular risers shall be used. Side street 
and alley exits shall have similar 
gradients where practicable. 

Floors of all exits shall be designed 
to be flush with adjacent floors by 
means of gradients where necessary. 

Section 840w Every theatre accom¬ 
modating 250 persons shall have at 
least two exits; w T hen accommodating 
500 persons, at least three exits shall 
be provided—these exits not referring 
to nor including the exits to the open 
court at the side of a theatre. Door- 
v'ays of exit or entrance for the use 
of the public shall not be less than 
5 feet 0 inches in width and for 
every additional 100 persons or por¬ 
tion thereof to be accommodated in 
excess of 500 an aggregate of 20 
inches additional exit width must be 
allowed. All exits shall be located 
as far apart as practicable on each 
floor, balcony or gallery. 

Provision shall be made for exits 
at least. 3 feet 0 inches wide from 
all boxes, arranged so that egress 
from boxes shall be as safe as from 
gallery or balcony or auditorium 
floor. 

At least two independent exits not 
less than 3 feet 0 inches wide shall 
be provided from the stage, located 
on opposite sides of the same and 
leading directly or through a fire* 
pxoof passage, to a street or alley. 

There shall be one means of egress 
to the roof or through windows or 
ether exits from the gridiron and 
one from each fly gallery. Such ex¬ 
its, if there are two, shall be located 
at opposite ends of the floor served. 

All doors of exits or entrances shall 
open outward and shall be hung to 
swing in such a manner as not to be¬ 
come an obstruction in a passage or 
corridor, and no such doors shall be 
so locked as to delay or obstruct in 
any way the rapid and free passage 
of people outward when the building 
is open to the public or during any 
performance therein. 

No single door shall be less than 
3 feet 0 inches wide, provided two 
doors may be used in each required 
5 feet 0 inches doorway. No single 
door or leaf of a folding door shall 
exceed 4 feet 0 inches in width. 

No architectural treatment, mir¬ 
rors, false windows, doors or other 
decorations shall be so used as to 
give the appearance of a door or exit, 
when no such door or exit exists. 
Every such treatment shall be re¬ 
moved from existing theatres within 
six months after the enactment of 
this Code. 

All doors of all exits must be of 
approved fireproof construction, set 
in fireproof frames. 

Section 841, In addition to the en¬ 
trances and exits on the street re¬ 
quired by the preceding section, there 
shall be reserved for service in case 
cf an emergency an open court, cor¬ 
ridor or space on the side not border¬ 
ing on the streets, where said build¬ 
ing is located on a corner lot, and on 
both sides of said building where 
there is but one frontage on the 
street. In case of a one-story build¬ 
ing having an area not exceeding 
4,000 square feet and with a seating 
capacity of less than 500 people, a 


court 5 feet 0 inches wide on one 
side only shall be required, provided 
that all seats shall be on one floor, 
and no galleries be allowed in such 
building. 

In all other theatres, the width of 
such open court or courts shall not 
oe less than 7 feet 0 inches where 
the seating capacity is not over 1,000 
people; above and not more than 
1,800 people, 8 feet 0 inches in width, 
and about 1,800 people, 10 feet 0 
inches in width. Said open court or 
courts shall begin on a line with or 
near the proscenium wall and shall 
at least extend the length of the au¬ 
ditorium proper to or near the wall 
separating the same from the en¬ 
trance lobby or vestibule. 

Each open court, corridor or space 
»hall continue to a street or alley or 
a separate corridor therefrom shall 
extend through any superstructure 
that may be built on the street side 
of the auditorium, and shall have 
continuous masonry walls on each 
side of its entire length, with no 
projections into said corridor; and 
the ceilings, floors and stairways 
therein shall be fireproof. 

The outer openings of all such 
courts, halls or corridors, if provided 
with doors or gates, shall have them 
opening toward the street. During 
the performance the doors or gate9 
shall be kept open by proper fasten¬ 
ings; at other times they shall not 
be held closed by any fastenings that 
cannot be easily and quickly opened 
oy anybody from the inside without 
a key. 

Courts, halls, corridors or passages 
of an adjoining fireproof office build¬ 
ing may be used as exits from a the¬ 
atre and when so used they must be 
kept clear and free during perform¬ 
ances. 

The level of all said courts, halls 
and corridors shall be at the level of 
the sidewalk where they begin at the 
street entrance. 

No passage leading to any stairs, 
exit or entrance shall be less than 4 
feet 0 inches in width. 

Every corridor, passageway and 
other means of egress from any of¬ 
fice, smoking room, toilet room or 
check room shall permit of continu¬ 
ous passage to an exit without re¬ 
turning. Every such corridor, pas¬ 
sage and other means of egress must 
be at least 3 feet 0 inches in width 
in the clear and have no exit doors 
or windows which can be locked from 
the inside, unless there be in such 
opening a clear area of thin glass 
sufficient for egress when broken. 

Section 34!2. In addition to the or¬ 
dinary exits, every theatre shall have 
not less than two emergency exits 
opening from each side of each floor 
of auditorium, balcony and galleries, 
either into a street or an alley, or 
into a court, corridor or hall. 

These exits shall be closed with 
fireproof doors in fireproof frames 
and shall have only such fastenings 
as will readily yield to the direct out¬ 
ward pressure of one person. Said 
doors shall be at least three inches 
narrower than the court, hall, cor¬ 
ridor or balcony upon which they 
open, and shall be hung in such a 
manner as not to obstruct the pas¬ 
sage of people from exits above. 
Each door as above described shall 
open outward from an aisle or exit. 

All balconies and stairways lead¬ 
ing from exits shall be constructed 







The Building Code 


97 


of iron, steel or other fireproof mate¬ 
rial throughout, and shall safely sus¬ 
tain a load of 100 pounds to the 
square foot, and shall not be less 
than 3 feet 0 inches in width. Such 
stairways shall have solid treads. 

Section 843. In all theatres, every 
aisle on the respective floors in the 
auditorium, balcony and galleries 
having seats on both sides of the 
.‘same, shall be not less than 3 feet 
0 inches wide at the end farthest 
from the main entrance, and shall be 
increased in width toward such en¬ 
trance in the ratio of one inch every 
five running feet. Aisles having 
seats on one side only shall be not 
less than 2 feet 6 inches wide at 
place of beginning, and widened to¬ 
ward the enlranee at the ratio of 
one inch in every ten running feet, 
except that aisles in front of tho 
boxes may be 2 feet 0 inches wide. 
There shall be aisles next to all 
walls of the auditorium. 

Section 844. No seat in the audi¬ 
torium. balcony or galleries of any 
theatre shall have more than six 
seats intervening between it and an 
aisle except that in each of the last 
eight vows next to the foyer on the 
main floor there may be seven seats 
intervening. 

Seats shall be not less than 32 
inches from back to back measured 
in a horizontal direction. All seats 
excepting those in the boxes must be 
firmly secured to the floor. 

There shall be no seats in any 
aisle or cross aisle leading to an 
exit, unless such aisle is increased 2 
feet 6 inches in width. 

Section 845. Patforms formed to 
receive the seats in the balcony and 
galleries of any theatre shall be not 
more than 21 inches in height of 
riser, nor less in width of platform 
than the required distance back to 
back of seats. 

If the number of banks of seats 
on the auditorium floor exceeds 20, 
an intervening cross aisle may be 
required leading to a side exit unless 
a direct exit is provided for each 
aisle. The number of banks of seats 
in the balcony and galleries shall 
not exceed 15, unless an intervening 
or cross aisle is provided between 
each 15 banks of seats or a direct 
exit is provided for each aisle. 

Section 846. in all theatres In fire¬ 
proof buildings the fronts of galler¬ 
ies shall be of fireproof construction, 
and in all other buildings may be of 
wood construction covered on both 
sides with approved metal or metal 
lath and cement plaster. The cap¬ 
ping of all gallery fronts may be of 
hardwood or other approved material. 

Section 847. All exits above the 
first floor in every theatre shall have 
independent stairs and exits to the 
street; provided, however, that a 
common place of exit or entrance 
may serve for the main floor of the 
auditorium and the balcony upon the 
following conditions (a) its capac¬ 
ity must be equal to the aggregate 
capacity of the outlets from the 
main floor and said balcony; (b) tho 
bottom flight of the stairs leading 
from the balcony must not land at 
right angles or nearly so with the 
central exits of the common exit, 
unless there be a clear space or land¬ 
ing of at least 1% times the width 
of the stairs between the foot oi 


such stairs and such center line of 
the nearest exit doorway. 

No stairway shall lead to a base¬ 
ment or cellar from any public part 
of a theatre in front of the prosce¬ 
nium wall, except from the foyer to 
a fireproof room below. 

Every stairway serving for the 
exit of 100 people or less shall bo 
at least 4 feet 0 inches wide, and 
shall be increased in the ratio of at 
least 12 inches in width for every 
additional 100 people to be accommo¬ 
dated. No circular or winding stairs 
for the use of the public shall be 
permitted. 

In theatres having rot more than 
one balcony and one gallery if the 
seating capacity be more than 500 
on each floor, there shall be provided 
for each balcony or gallery at least 
two independent stairways. The 
same shall be located on opposite 
sides of said balcony and gallery. 

Where there are more than one bal¬ 
cony and one gallery, one or more 
additional stairways shall be pro¬ 
vided for each additional balcony or 
gallery. Where the seating capacity 
is 1,000 or less on each gallery floor, 
two direct lines of gallery stairs only 
shall be required, located on opposite 
sides of the gallery. 

In both cases gallery stairs shall 
extend from the sidewalk level to 
the upper gallery, with outlets from 
each gallery to each of said stair¬ 
ways. 

All inside stairways leading to the 
upper galleries shall be closed on 
both sides with masonry walls or fire¬ 
proof partitions. Stairs leading to 
the front or lower balcony may be 
left open on one side, but in no case 
shall stairs leading to any balcony 
or gallery be left open on both sides. 

When straight stairs return direct¬ 
ly upon themselves a landing the full 
width of both flights, without steps, 
shall be provided. The outer line of 
such landing shall be curved to a 
radius of not less than 2 feet 0 inches 
to avoid square angles. Stairs turn¬ 
ing in an angle shall have a landing 
without winders at said turn. In 
stairs where two flights connect with 
o'ne main flight, there shall be no 
winders, and the width of the main 
flight shall be at least equal to the 
aggregate width of the side flights. 
All stairs shall have landings not 
exceeding 12 feet 0 inches apart pen- 
dicularly. 

Every enclosed stairway shall have 
on each side a strong and continuous 
handrail firmly secured to the wall, 
not less than two inches distant 
therefrom, and about 3 feet 0 inches 
above the stairs. Every staircase 8 
feet 0 inches and over in width shall 
be provided with a center hand rail 
of metal not less than two inches in 
diameter, placed at a height of about 
3 feet 0 inches above the center of 
the treads. Such handrail shall be 
supported on wrought iron, steel or 
brass standards not less than two 
inches in diameter, which standards 
shall be placed not less than 4 feet 
0 inches nor more than 6 feet 0 inches 
apart, and securely fastened or bolt¬ 
ed to the treads or risers, or to both. 
At the head of each such flight of 
stairs and at each landing, there shall 
be a post or‘standard at least 6 feet 
0 inches in height to which the said 
hand hail shall be securely fastened. 

Section 848. In every theatre 
there shall be a masonry division 




38 


The Building Code 


wall separating- the stage from the 
auditorium of thickness required by 
this Code and in no part less than 
12 inches of brick or its equivalent, 
which wall shall extend at least 4 feet 
0 inches above the highest adjoining 
roof of the stage or auditorium. The 
wall above the proscenium opening 
shall be supported by a beam or 
beams of iron, steel or reinforced 
concrete thoroughly fireproofed as re¬ 
quired in fireproof buildings, or by 
a proper combination of such beam or 
beams and masonry arch. 

No doorway or opening through the 
proscenium wall from the auditorium 
other than proscenium arch shall be 
allowed above the level of the stage 
floor, except as hereinafter provided. 
Such openings, as are allowed below 
the stage floor, shall bave approved 
fireproof doors on each side of the 
wall, and the doors shall be hung so 
as to be opened from either side at 
all times without keys. 

Nothing in this ordinance shall 
prevent one opening through the 
proscenium wall on each side of the 
proscenium arch, at the auditorium 
floor level, not exceeding 21 square 
feet in area, provided such openings 
be protected on each side by ap¬ 
proved self-closing doors. 

Section 849. The main curtain in 
the opening of the proscenium wall 
of every theatre shall be composed 
of long fibre asbestos twisted on 
brass wire and woven into a close 
cloth. The laps shall be sewed with 
two lines of brass and asbestos stitch¬ 
ing, which laps shall not be less than 
one inch wide. Said cloth shall be 
lapped at least four times around the 
top and around the bottom bars with 
at least three lines of the stitching 
above specified. 

The edge of the curtain shall be 
continuously reinforced by lapping 
and stitching and also with pieces of 
sheet metal for clips. The curtain 
shall be at least 30 inches wider and 
higher than the masonry opening, 
and shall have steel top and bottom 
bars of not less than two square 
inches in cross section, which bars 
shall be connected by four steel 
cables 3-16 inch in diameter. 

There shall be % inch standing 
cable with ends secured to steel 
brackets fastened to the wall and 
the lower ends amply counter-weight¬ 
ed to keep the cables taut at all times 
and where the cables pass through 
the stage floor, the holes shall be 
metal bushed. 

The curtain shall have hardwood 
eyelets not over 18 inches center to 
center, around the standing cables on 
both vertical edges, which eyelets 
shall be secured to the curtain by 
brass clips riveted to the curtain with 
double sheet metal reinforcing. 

There shall be steel lifting cables, 
% inch in diameter, at each end of 
the curtain and at intermediate points 
not over 15 feet 0 inches apart at¬ 
tached to drum or pulleys located 
above the curtain. 

There shall be emergency chains 
midway between the lifting cables to 
hold the curtain, which shall be equal 
in strength and efficiency to the lift¬ 
ing cables. 

There shall be substantial steel 
guides on each side of the curtain 
from the stage floor to the level of 
the overhead sheaves. The metal 
guides shall lap the edges of the cur¬ 


tain not less than 6 inches. The cur¬ 
tain shall be incombustible in all its 
parts and its operating devices. 

The painting and the manner of 
tripping the curtain and the number 
of and the location of places for trip¬ 
ping shall be subject to the approval 
of the Fire Marshal. 

A permit shall be obtained from 
the Superintendent of Buildings for 
the erection of each such curtain. 

Section 850. In all theatres all 
stage scenery and framing, curtains 
and decorations made of inflammable 
material belonging to the building 
shall be painted or saturated with a 
paint or chemical solution which will 
render it non-inflammable, and shall 
be tested and approved by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings and the Fire 
Marshal. Scenery painted with wa¬ 
ter color paint may be considered 
non-inflammable. 

Section 851. In all theatres except 
one-story non-fireproof theatres out¬ 
side the First Building District, the 
walls separating the actors’ dressing 
rooms from the stage and the parti¬ 
tions dividing the dressing rooms, to¬ 
gether with the partitions of every 
passageway from the same to the 
stage, and all other partitions on or 
about the stage, shall be fireproof. 
All doors in any of the said parti¬ 
tions shall be fireproof. All shelving 
and cupboards in dressing rooms, 
property rooms or other storage 
rooms, shall be constructed of metal, 
slate or of asbestos board not less 
than 3-16 inches thick, or other ap¬ 
proved fireproof material. 

Every dressing room shall have 
access to at least two means of exit, 
one of which shall be an independent 
exit leading directly into a street or 
alley or to a hall, corridor or court 
opening into a street or alley. Dress¬ 
ing rooms shall not be more than one 
story below the lowest street or alley 
adjoining the theatre. All stairs lead¬ 
ing to dressing or other rooms above 
or below the stage except one-story 
non-fireproof theatres, shall be of iron 
or steel or other approved fireproof 
material,, and not less than 3 feet 0 
inches in width. 

All window's back of the prosce¬ 
nium wall shall be arranged to open, 
and none of the windows in outsida 
walls shall have fixed sashes, iron 
grilles or bars. 

No workshop, storage or general 
property room shall be located on tin 
auditorium side of the prosceniurj 
wall nor in any of the fly galleries. 

Section 852. In every theatre other 
than one-story non-fireproof theatres, 
the stage floor shall be constructed as 
required for floors in fireproof build¬ 
ings, except that openings may be 
left therein for the working of the 
scenery, traps and other mechanical 
apparatus, provided, said openings, 
when not in use shall be covered 
with boards or trap doors of maple, 
oak or other hard wood not less than 
IV 2 inches thick or vertical grain fir, 
not less than 3 inches thick and all 
supports shall be metal or metal cov¬ 
ered or of other approved equivalent 
construction. 

Section 853. In every theatre hav¬ 
ing a seating capacity of 500 or more, 
the rigging loft shall be constructed 
of iron or steel throughout, and fly 
gallery floors shall be of fireproof 
construction. In theatres having a 
seating capacity of less than 500 the 






The Building Code 


99 


rigging loft and fly galleries may be 
of wood, with steel supports as re¬ 
quired for amusement halls. 

Section 854. In every theatre there 
shall be provided over the stage and 
with direct and open communication 
through any ceiling thereof, a metal 
framed skylight or skylights or other 
smoke vent openings equal in area to 
not less than 1-10 of the area of the 
stage. No single opening shall be 
of an area less than 1-5 of the total 
required area. The smoke vent open¬ 
ings shall be closed by shutters so 
constructed that they will open by 
their own weight. 

Skylights used as such smoke vents 
shall be fitted with rolling sash shut¬ 
ters having suitable brass or other 
non-rusting metal wheels, journals 
and tracks The tracks shall extend 
the entire length of the sash and an 
equal distance beyond the opening 
with a slope of not less than 1 to 10. 
The sash shall be glazed with com¬ 
mon glass not more than % inch 
thick, m panes not Jess than 300 
square inches in area, and shall be 
set on curbs so located that the low¬ 
est portion of the tracks on which 
they run will be not less than 1 foot 
0 inches above the roof. Immedi¬ 
ately underneath the glass of all said 
skylights there shall be wire netting 
of not more than 1 inch mesh. All 
parts of shutters and frames shall 
be of incombustible materials. 

If shutters occupying a vertical po¬ 
sition when closed are used, they 
shall be hinged at the bottom and 
provided with a metal weight which 
shall cause them to open outward. 
This weight shall be so placed that 
the shutter is held in a closed posi¬ 
tion by a rope and on release of the 
rope the shutter will open its full 
width. 

All such skylights and other smoke 
vent shutters shall be so constructed 
that the entire area of each will open 
instantly upon the cutting, burning 
or releasing of a loose twisted hemp 
cord not more than % inch in diam¬ 
eter. Such cord shall be so arranged 
as to hold said skylight or other 
vent shutters closed and shall be 
carried downward to the lowest level 
that will not interfere with the scen¬ 
ery or rigging, and then carried 
through steel or wrought iron pul¬ 
leys not less than 3 inches in diam¬ 
eter, with flanges not less than 1 
inch wide, so arranged that the cord 
will cross the full width and length 
of the stage in both directions. Each 
cf the portions of the cord crossing 
the stage shall be provided with two 
or more fusible link devices, one on 
each side of the stage, which will 
operate to release said cord at a tem¬ 
perature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In addition to the above required 
hempen cord, there shall extend from 
the skylight or other shutters to each 
fly gallery and to the stage floor in 
a location approved by the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings, metal cords, or 
wires, so arranged that when pulled 
they will instantly cut off and re¬ 
lease the hempen cord at the sky¬ 
light or other smoke vent shutters 
and allow them to open. There shall 
be provided in each fly gallery and 
at the stage level a permanent sign 
in plain letters not less than 1 inch 
high, bearing the words, “In case of 
fire pull cord to open smoke vents.” 

No fastening or other device for 


holding the shutters of the smoke 
vent openings in a closed position, 
other than the ropes with fusible 
links shall be attached to any such 
shutter. 

No obstruction of any kind shall be 
placed in the way of a complete 
draft from the stage to the smoke 
vent openings except that required 
for the operation of the scenery. The 
entire gridiron shall be an open one, 
and no flooring shall be placed there¬ 
on. 

Section 855. Good and sufficient 
air and ventilation shall be provided 
for all theatres. The auditorium of 
every theatre having a seating capac¬ 
ity of 500 persons or more shall be 
provided with a system of mechani¬ 
cal ventilation which shall provide 
10 cubic feet of good outside air per 
minute for each person. Every such 
system shall be as approved by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

Ali dressing rooms and other rooms 
in the theatre must be properly ven¬ 
tilated. Where registers or vents are 
provided back of the proscenium wall 
they must be of fireproof material 
and arranged with approved auto¬ 
matic closing devices. 

Section 856. In every building con¬ 
taining a theatre every portion of the 
building devoted to the use of the 
public and all outlets leading to the 
streets, including the open courts, 
halls and corridors, shall be well- 
lighted with electricity during every 
performance, and shall remain light¬ 
ed until the audience has left the 
premises. All said lights in the halls, 
courts, corridors, lobbies, or any other 
part of said building used by the 
audience, except the auditorium, must 
be controlled by a separate shut-off 
located in the box-office and con¬ 
trolled only in that particular place. 
The stage lighting shall be on a sepa¬ 
rate circuit from the auditorium. 

Every exit shall have over the 
same on the inside the word "Exit” 
painted in legible letters not less than 
six inches in height, and also a red 
light of not less than 16 candle-pow¬ 
er, on a circuit independent from all 
other lights in the building. 

Section 857. On the program of 
each performance in every theatre, 
there shall be printed in plain black 
lines a diagram or plan of every gal¬ 
lery or floor, each plan occupying a 
space of not less than 12 square 
inches and showing distinctly the 
location of all exits, followed by a 
concise description of the exits and 
their locations. 

Section 853. All theatres shall be 
provided with standpipes not less 
than 4 inches in diameter, as follows: 
(me on each side of the auditorium 
with hose attachments on each floor; 
at least one on each side of the stage 
so near the proscenium arch as never 
to be obstructed, and with hose at¬ 
tachment on each floor, fly gallery 
and gridiron, and one in the carpenter 
shop or storage room if the same be 
in or contiguous tO' the building. All 
such hose attachments shall be kept 
clear from obstructions. Said stand 
pipes shall be separate and distinct, 
receiving their supply of water from 
the street main through a connection 
of at least the same area as the stand 
pipes. 

They shall be fitted with good 2V‘i 
inch valves at each outlet. National 
standard 2 V 2 inch coupling threads, 




100 


The Building Code 


reducers from 2 1 / £ to lVi-inch, and 
shall be kept continually under the 
city water pressure and ready for 
immediate use. There shall be kept 
attached to each standpipe outlet 50 
feet, or such length as may be di¬ 
rected by the Fire Marshal, of l x fo.- 
inch unlined linen hose, in good con¬ 
dition, and having a suitable nozzle 
attached. There shall be kept along¬ 
side of each outlet one spanner for 
each size of coupling. 

In addition to the above, there shall 
be at least one 4-inch standpipe ex¬ 
tending from 5 feet 0 inches above 
the street or alley grade to the roof 
and alongside of its regulation iron 
ladder fire escape, giving easy access 
to the roof. Such standpipe shall be 
so located by the Fire Marshall as 
to make important windows or doors 
accessible, and so that other fire es¬ 
cape balconies may serve for the 
ladder. At the bottom of this stand¬ 
pipe there shall be a two-way auto¬ 
matic Siamese connection with Na¬ 
tional standard 2 x / 2 -inch coupling 
threads. At the top of this stand¬ 
pipe and at each window or door it 
passes, there shall be outlets with 
good 2^-inch valves and National 
standard coupling threads. 

A separate and distinct system of 
automatic sprinkler pipes shall be 
placed in the soffit of the proscenium 
arch and behind the proscenium wall, 
not connected in any manner with the 
standpipe, but supplied with watei 
from the city service and a tank or 
tanks so located as to develop pres¬ 
sure of at least 10 pounds per square 
inch at the highest sprinkler heads 
and containing not less than one 
gallon of water for each square foot 
of floor area to be sprinkled, which 
tanks shall be at all times filled with 
water. Said pipes shall connect with 
automatic sprinklers which will oper¬ 
ate at a temperature of 165 degrees 
Fahrenheit, and so arranged as to 
sprinkle every square foot of stage 
in front of the curtain and the entire 
floor behind the proscenium wall, in¬ 
cluding the stage, the rigging lift, 
the fly galleries, all dressing rooms, 
property rooms, store rooms, paint 
rooms, stairs and the carpenter shop. 

There shall be connected with the 
main supply pipe of the sprinkler 
system a pipe of the same size with 
suitable check valves which latter 
pipe shall run to a convenient point 
outside the building and end in a 
two-way automatic Siamese connec¬ 
tion with National standard 2%-inch 
coupling threads. All piping for 


standpipes shall be strong and well 
galvanized. 

Section 859. No floor register for 
heating purposes shall be used in any 
theatre and no coil or radiator shall 
be placed in any aisle, or hall cor* 
ridor, stairway or passageway used 
for egress, but the same shall be 
placed in recesses formed in walls 
or partitions. 

All supply, return or exhaust pipes 
containing hot water or steam, shall 
be encased and protected by not less 
than two inches of concrete, or metal 
collars with not less than *4-inch 
open space around the pipe, where 
the same pass through any floor or 
woodwork. 

No boiler or furnace used for heat¬ 
ing or other purposes shall be located 
within the enclosing walls of a the¬ 
atre, nor under any passageway, 
court or stairway used as a means 
of egress. 

Section 860. There shall be main¬ 
tained in good order in every theatre 
approved liquid chemical fire ex¬ 
tinguishers. One of these shall be 
in the office, one on the stage, on 
each side of the proscenium arch, 
and others in such locations as may 
be designated by the Fire Marshal. 
With each extinguisher there shall 
be one pick head fire axe. There 
shall be in a conspicuous location on 
the stage three hooks with handles 
25 feet, 15 feet and 10 feet long. 

There shall also be kept in readi¬ 
ness for immediate use on the stage 
at least four casks of water, and two 
buckets to each cask. The casks and 
buckets shall be painted red. 

Section 861. Every theatre shall 
be provided with an auxiliary elec¬ 
trical fire alarm system, which shall 
be connected with and operate a main 
fire alarm box located outside of the 
theatre building, but within the width 
of an abutting street of it, and ocn- 
nected with the city fire alarm sys¬ 
tem. 

Section 862. The agent, lessee or 
manager, in active charge of every 
theatre, shall institute and maintain, 
under the direction of the Fire Mar¬ 
shal, such systems of fire drills that 
each employe in the theatre shall be 
trained to do a certain portion of the 
work of preventing and extinguish¬ 
ing fire and providing for the safety 
of human ife. Drill work will in¬ 
clude inspections of the curtain and 
stage vents and of all fire apparatus, 
devices and appliances and the neces¬ 
sary tests. In the months of October 


A. G. LONG CO., Inc. 

EXCLUSIVE SALES REPRESENTATIVES 

AMERICAN LA FRANCE FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, INC. 

Elmira, N. T. 

FABRIC FIRE HOSE COMPANY 

Sandy Hook, Conn. 

TIFFIN WAGON COMPANY 

Tiffin, Ohio 

106 Prefontaine Place Seattle, Wash. 









The Building Code 


101 


and April of each year, at a time of 
day when no performance is on, every 
theatre and its fire drills shall be 
jointly inspected by the Superintend¬ 
ent of Building's and the Chief of 
Fire Department or the Fire Marshal. 
At such times the stage vents shall 
be operated, the asbestos curtain low¬ 
ered and such other tests made as 
may be deemed necessary by the of¬ 
ficials mentioned. 

No theatre shall be opened to the 
public unlesis such fire apparatus is 
in its proper place and in good work¬ 
ing order. 

Section 863. No theatre, hereafter 
erected or altered to the extent of 40 
per cent, of the original cost, shall 
be used as a place of public enter¬ 
tainment unless the same shall in all 
respects conform to the provisions 
of this Code relating to the construc¬ 
tion of theatres. 

Section 864. No theatre hereafter 
erected or altered shall be open to 
the public for public entertainment 
of any kind until the Superintendent 
of Buildings shall have examined the 
same and issued and recorded in his 
office a written certificate signed by 
him and by the Fire Marshal to the 
effect that such theatre conforms to 
the provisions of this Code, or to the 
ordinance under which the permit 
was issued, and no license for public 
entertainment in such theatre shall 
be granted or issued except upon pre¬ 
sentation to the City Comptroller of 
such certificate. 

Section 865. The term Moving 
Picture Theatre in this ordinance 
means a place of public assembly 
where celluloid or other combustible 


films are employed in the projection 
of pictures or other representations 
before an assemblage of people. The 
term shall apply to the place of as¬ 
sembly and to all rooms, passages 
and other parts of the building con¬ 
nected to or used in connection with 
such place. 

The term Moving Picture Machine 
in this ordinance shall apply to any 
form of mechanism using celluloid 
or other combustible films for the 
projection of pictures as above. 

Every Moving Picture Theatre shall 
be well and properly ventilated and 
shall comply with the provisions re¬ 
lating to Public Assembly Halls and 
to the following special requirements. 

Any place used as a Moving Pic¬ 
ture Theatre, having a seating capac¬ 
ity of 750 or more, shall be subject 
to all the provisions relating to The¬ 
atres. 

Section 866. Every building of 
other than fireproof or mill construc¬ 
tion. when containing a Moving Pic¬ 
ture Theatre, must have all its walls, 
partitions and ceilings plastered, us¬ 
ing cement plaster, if in the First 
Building District, or must have finish 
deemed equally fire resistive by the 
Superintendent of Buildings; provid¬ 
ed, that isolated one-story Moving 
Picture Theatres outside of the Sec¬ 
ond Building District may be unplas¬ 
tered except as elsewhere required by 
law. 

Every Moving Picture Theatre hav¬ 
ing a balcony, gallery or galleries 
for seating the public shall be fire¬ 
proof. 

fNo Moving Picture Theatre shall 
be operated unless cut off from all 



The Instantaneous Alarm Co. 


810% FIRST AVENUE 

The Gamewell Auxiliary Fire Alarm Service j 

Central Station System of Night-Watch 
Supervision 

Burglar Alarms, Police Calls j 

Fire Dispatch and Notification Service 
Automatic Sprinkler Supervision 

“fln ounce of prevention is worth a pound of eyre" 

Telephone us for full information. 

R. T. REID, j 

GENERAL MANAGER 

V._______—------ 

















102 


The Building Code 


other portions of the building in 
which it is located by fireproof or fire 
restrictive walls or partitions and 
ceilings in which any necessary open¬ 
ings are protected by self-closing 
fireproof doors. 

Section 8S7. No Moving Picture 
Machine shall be operated in any 
place of assembly that does not open 
directly upon a street or alley. 

Section 868. The entrances to all 
Moving Picture Theatres must be at 
least 5 feet in width. 

In addition to the above required 
entrance, there shall be provided for 
every Moving Picture Theatre hav¬ 
ing within its enclosing walls 2,000 
square feet or less of floor area, one 
exit at least 4 feet 0 inches wide, 
located at or near the apposite end 
of the room from the entrance—and 
leading direct to an alley or street; 
and one additional exit 4 feet 0 inches 
wide for each 1,000 square feet or 
major fraction thereof of floor area. 

All exits must be located as ap¬ 
proved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings, and must approach the 
street or alley by easy gradient or 
approved stairs; provided, that Mov¬ 
ing Picture Theatres having the mov¬ 
ing picture machine at the rear, or 
end opposite the entrance, and hav 
ing the specified number and widths 
of entrances and exits conveniently 
located, shall only be required to 
have such rear exits as will offer 
convenient means of egress for ail 
persons operating the machine and 
otherwise employed in that part of 
the Theatre. 

During the time that a moving pic¬ 
ture machine is being operated or any 


assemblage of people gathered, doors 
and entrances and exits shall not be 
held closed by any fastenings that 
cannot be easily and quickly released 
by anybody from the inside without 
the use of a key. All said doors 
must be so hung as to swing out¬ 
ward. There shall be nothing to ob¬ 
struct free passage at entrances and 
exits. 

All Moving Picture Theatres hav¬ 
ing galleries must as a minimum re¬ 
quirement have all aisles, stairways 
and exits arranged and constructed 
as required for Public Assembly 
Kalis. 

Section 869. Every aisle in Mov 
ing Picture Theatres must be at least 
3 feet 0 inenes in minimum width, 
and for auditorium floors must in¬ 
crease tow^ard the entrance at least 
one inch in w r idth for every 5 run¬ 
ning feet and shall lead directly to 
the exits. Steps in aisles of the au¬ 
ditorium will not be permitted. Aisles 
must not have a maximum gradient 
of more than 10% unless approved by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

No moving picture machine shall 
be operated in any theatre, room or 
hall in which chairs or other furni¬ 
ture or other obstructions, whether 
by persons or things, are within the 
lines of aisles and passages as defined 
and described in this ordinance. 

Section 870. All seats in every 
Moving Picture Theatre must be se¬ 
curely fastened to the floor and be 
at least 32 inches, back to back. From 
any seats there shall not be more 
than 6 intervening seats to an aisle. 

Section 871. Every machine in- 


PBONE 

MA in 2333 


RES. PHONE 

BA nier 0698 


Seattle Sheet Metal Shop 

A. H. KEELER, Prop. 

PLUMBING, TANKS, SKYLIGHTS, GUTTERS and DOWN 
SPOUTS; GENERAL REPAIRING; 

OLYMPIC AND PACIFIC FURNACES 

88 Columbia Street, Colman Bldg. Basement Seattle 


PHONE EL lot 3729 C. J. PENGELLY 

Moon Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. 

EVERYTHING IN SHEET METAL. 

AND ROOFING 

Cornices, Skylights, Fireproof Doors and Windows, Tar and 
Gravel Roofing, Ventilating. 


550 DENNY WAY. 


SEATTLE. 









The Building Code 


103 


stalled or operated shall be enclosed 
within a booth. 

All booths shall be at least 7 feet 
0 inches high and have the following 
floor space according to the number 


of machines: 

1 Picture Machine. 6 ft.x 8 ft. 

1 Picture Machine and 
stereopticon . 9 ft. x 8 ft. 


2 Picture Machines with or 

without stereopticon . . . 12 ft. x 8 ft. 

Each booth must have one door 2 
feet 0 inches wide by 6 feet 0 inches 
high, opening outward, closed by a 
strong spring and kept closed while 
the machine inside is in operation. 

Section 872. Within the First 
Building District, no Moving Picture 
Machine shall be operated in any 
Moving Picture Theatre unless said 
machine or machines be inside of a 
booth constructed according to the 
following specifications: 

The booth shall have a substantial 
braced frame of structural steel with 
riveted or bolted connections. The 
door must be of corresponding con¬ 
struction, and must be substantially 
hung with hinges in an angle iron 
frame and must be self-closing. 

The covering of the top, sides and 
bottom must be of approved heavy 
sheet metal or asbestos lumber with 
all joints sufficiently lapped or cov¬ 
ered and made tight. 

Section 873. Outside the First 
Building District, Moving Pictuie 
Machines may be operated in Moving 
Picture Theatres if said machines be 
inside of booths made according to 
the following or equivalent specifi¬ 
cations. 

The booth shall have a substantial 
wood frame and shall be enclosed on 
the sidesi, the top and bottom with 
%-inch matched sheathing. The door 
must be of corresponding construc¬ 
tion and must be substantially hinged 
and made self-closing. 

The ceiling and inside of Moving 
Picture booth walls shall be protect¬ 
ed by a close fitting covering of tin 
with locked joints, and floor must be 
covered with approved asbestos lum¬ 
ber or other approved non-combusti¬ 
ble covering. The exterior of walls 
and roof shall be of hard plaster or 
metal lath applied close to the wood 
sheathing. 

Section 87*1. There shall be not 
more than two openings in the booth 
for each Moving Picture Machine, 
one for the operator and one for the 
machine. The opening for the oper¬ 
ator’s view shall not exceed 48 square 
inches and the opening for the ma¬ 
chine shall not exceed 64 square 
inches. 

The openings shall be provided 
with gravity shutters of not less 
than No. 14 B. & S. guage sheet 
metal, sliding in metal guides at least 
twice as long as the shutter, which, 
when closed, shall overlap the win¬ 
dow opening at least one inch on all 
sides. The shutters shall be held 
open by a small combustible cord in 
series with a fusible link at each 
opening and one on the main cord so 
arranged that the link is suspended 
directly over the film when in the 
slide of the apparatus. The cord 
shall be so placed that the shutters 
may be easily released by hand. 

Section 875. There shall not be 
more than two shelves. 12 inches 
wide and 4 feet 0 inches long, in any 
Moving Picture Booth, one for re¬ 


winding and the other for storage. 
All shelves must be of slate, steel or 
other fireproof construction, or if 
consructed of wood shall be at least 
%-inch thick and entirely covered 
with tin, with lock joints, and shall 
be supported by iron brackets. 

The reels for the films on the ma¬ 
chine must be encased in steel boxes 
with opening just large enough for 
the film to pass through, with covers 
so arranged that these openings can 
be instantly closed. No solder shall 
be used in the construction of these 
boxes. 

A shutter must be provided in front 
of the condenser of the machine, ar¬ 
ia nged to be readily closed by the 
operator. 

A separate metal case made with¬ 
out solder, shall be provided for each 
film when the film is not in the ma¬ 
chine. All films must be kept in 
these cases. 

Section 876. Every permanent Mov¬ 
ing Picture Booth must be provided 
with an air inlet in two opposite 
sides of the booth for supplying fresh 
air for the operator. Each inlet 
must be 12 inches long by 3 inches 
high, the bottom located 3 inches 
above the floor of the booth. All in¬ 
lets must be covered with wire net¬ 
ting of not greater than ^-inch mesh 
and must be securely fastened to the 
covering of the booth by means of 
metal strips and bolts or screws. 

Near the center of the top of the 
tooth shall be a circular opening at 
least 8 inches in diameter provided 
w r ith a sheet iron flange securely 
fastened to the roof covering and 
made perfectly tight to prevent 
smoke getting out. Securely fas¬ 
tened on this flange shall be a vent 
pipe of sheet metal not less than 8 
inches in diameter which shall lead 
to the outside of the building or into 
a fireproof flue. Such metal pipe 
shall be protected or spaced where 
it passes near any wood work ac¬ 
cording to the provisions of this Code 
governing stove pipes. 

Inlets and outlets as above de¬ 
scribed may be omitted if booth has 
window through outside wall, sup¬ 
plying equivalent natural ventilation. 

Section 877. If the house lights 
are controlled from within the Mov¬ 
ing Picture Booth, an additional 
emergency control must be provided 
near the entrance, and kept at all 
times in good condition. 

In the booth one light will be al¬ 
lowed for each machine and one for 
the rewinding bench, all separated by 
wire baskets, but no cutouts for any 
purpose whatever will be allowed 
within the booth. In the exhibition 
room there shall be provided a sepa¬ 
rate system of house lighting, and 
a separate system for red lights over 
exits, both controlled by a switch¬ 
board located at the entrance and 
within reach of the ticket taker. 
There shall be one light at each exit 
in a sign with red letters at least 5 
inches high marked “EXIT.” 

Section 878, Every rheostat used 
in any Moving Picture Booth must 
be mounted on a slate insulator prop¬ 
erly supported on steel supports 
properly' fastened to the floor. 

All machines must be securely fas 
tened to the floor to prevent acci¬ 
dental overturning or moving of 
same. 

Section 879. There shall be main- 







104 


The Building Code 


tained in good order in every Moving 
Picture Theatre two liquid chemical 
fire extinguishers, which shall be 
considered “approved” when bearing 
the label of the Underwriters Labor¬ 
atories, Inc. One of these shall be 
inside the moving picture booth and 
one outside, both as directed by the 
Fire Marshal. 

Every Moving Picture Theatre 
shall be supplied with such portable 
implements or apparatus for fighting 
fires as are required for theatres of 
minimum seating capacity. 

Section SSO. No Moving Picture 
Theatre shall be permitted to open 
for entertainment of any kind until 
the Superintendent of Buildings shall 
have examined the same and issued 
and recorded in his office a written 
certificate of approval signed by him¬ 
self and the Fire Marshal certifying 
that such theatre conforms to this 
ordinance or to the permit under 
which the same was built, and no 
license for any public entertainment 
in such theatre shall be granted or 
ilssued except upon presentation to 
the City Comjftrollcr of such certifi¬ 
cate. 

The Superintendent of Buildings 
shall notify the Fire Marshal of per¬ 
mission given to operate any Moving 
Picture Machine so that it may be 
thereafter inspected. 

Section 881. Permission to use 
Portable Moving Picture Booths 
which have been approved by the 
Superintendent of Buildings, does not 
extend to their use in any theatre or 
public hall in which permanent 
booths have been installed, nor are 
they to be considered as serving the 
purpose of permanent booths. No 
Moving Picture Machine shall be op¬ 
erated in a portable booth for any 
but temporary or occasional exhibi¬ 
tions. 

Each portable booth shall be plain¬ 
ly marked with the name of the mak¬ 
er and with serial number in letters 
and figures not less than 2 inches 
high. Before a portable booth shall 
be used, approval must be obtained 
from the Superintendent of Buildings 
and a special permit from the Fire 
Marshal shall be issued for the use 
of an approved booth, said permit re¬ 
ferring to the name and number of 
the booth. The operator shall be re¬ 
quired to have this permit on his per¬ 
son whenever he may be operating or 
setting up or taking down the booth, 
any neglect so to hold this permit 
shall be deemed cause for the for¬ 
feiture of the operator’s license. 

No Moving Picture Machine shall 
be operated in a portable booth un¬ 
less said booth be constructed ac¬ 
cording to the following specifica¬ 
tions: 


Portable Asbestos Booths are to be 
at least 6 feet 6 inches high and 5 
feet square are permitted for use of 
one picture machine only. 

The booth shall have a substantial 
metal pipe frame connected by ap¬ 
proved metal pipe fittings, and there 
shall be a hinged ventilator trap on 
top not less than 2 feet 0 inches wide 
extending the full width of the top. 

The sides and top shall be of ap¬ 
proved asbestos cloth secured to the 
frame, and all joints except the nec¬ 
essary flap door must be made tight 
with non-combustible fastenings, and 
such covering shall be kept in good 
repair and free from rents and holes. 
The frame shall stand in the center 
of a 7-foot square floor mat of ap¬ 
proved asbestos cloth, which must 
be kept in good repair. 

The top of the frame of every port¬ 
able Moving Picture Booth shall be 
Ptted at the rear with a hinged ven¬ 
tilator trap as described. The as¬ 
bestos cloth top covering shall be 
so arranged and so attached to the 
frame that wnen the hinged trap is 
raised the asbestos covering shall be 
raised also at the rear. Suitable de¬ 
vices shall be supplied for maintain¬ 
ing this ventilator trap in a lifted 
position so as to form a clear ven¬ 
tilating space at the rear of not less 
than 6 inches high extending across 
the full width of the booth. 

All openings shall have edges 
hemmed, and shall be covered by as¬ 
bestos flaps arranged to close auto¬ 
matically with cords and fusible 
links. 

Section 882. All details of the 
construction of permanent and port¬ 
able Moving Picture Booths must be 
approved by the Superintendent of 
Buildings. 

Section 883. The term School 
Building shall include every building 
used as a place of learning, school 
or convent—but shall not include 
studios or rooms used for instruction 
in buildings used for other purposes 
and in which the aggregate number 
of persons receiving instruction at 
any one time does not exceed 100. 
School Buildings shall conform to 
the classes of buildings in the sev¬ 
eral building districts, and to the 
following special provisions: 

Section 884. S c h O' o 1 Buildings 
which have a seating capacity of 300 
or less and which are not over two 
stories and basement in height are 
not specially limited as to class; pro¬ 
vided that no portion of such build¬ 
ing if of frame construction shall be 
used for assembly hall purposes 
above the first floor. 

School Buildings which have a 
greater seating capacity than 300 and 
not exceeding 1,000, and which are 


W. R. HENDREY CO. 




SALES ENGINEERS 


bd 


SEATTLE 


EOG-E BUILDING- EL lot 1841 

ELECTRIC AND HAND POWER CRANES 
CHAIN HOISTS AND TROLLEYS COWAN TRUCKS 

WAREHOUSE TRUCKS AND TRAILERS 

COMPLETE HANDLING SYSTEMS 














The Building Code 


105 


more than one story and not over 
three stories and basement in height, 
shall be built of mill or fireproof 
construction. 

School Buildings which have a 
greater seating capacity than 1,000 
and which are more than one story 
and basement in height, shall be built 
entirely of fireproof construction, ex¬ 
cept that the roof may be of mill 
construction outside the First Build¬ 
ing District, provided that no timber 
truss shall be used of such design 
that its deflection would produce out¬ 
ward thrust upon the bearing walls 
or piers, and provided the roof is 
covered with incombustible material. 

School Buildings over three stories 
and basement in height shall be of 
fireproof construction, including the 
roof. 

Section 885. Where additions are 
made to School Buildings already 
erected, provided that such buildings 
are not more than two stories in 
height, the construction, if approved 
by the Superintendent of Buildings, 
may be of the same kind of materials 
as used in the old buildings to which 
additions are made, provided that 
the heating plants in such build¬ 
ings are located in fireproof rooms, 
and that all new stairways are con¬ 
structed of fireproof materials. 

Section 886. It shall be unlawful 
to construct or maintain any class 
room for school purposes in the base¬ 
ment of any school building here¬ 
after erected, except for teaching do¬ 
mestic science, manual training or 
physical culture, if the floor of such 
room is below the surface of the sur¬ 
rounding ground on all sides of such 
room. 

Section 887. No story above the 
'basement story of any School Build¬ 
ing shall be less than 12 feet 0 inches 
in height. 

Any attio story in any building in 
which school or classrooms are fitted 
up shall be considered as a story in 
the height of such building. 

Section 888. The total glass area 
-of outside windows and skylights of 
each class room, recitation room or 
study room in School Buildings shall 
not be less than one-fifth of the 
floor area of such room. 

Section 888. Assembly halls in 
•connection with schools and colleges 
shall be constructed in accordance 
with the provisions relating to Pub¬ 
lic Assembly Halls, so far as the 
same are applicable, except as other¬ 
wise specifically provided. 

Section 890. No part of the main 
floor of any assembly hall or audi 
torium in any School Building having 
a seating capacity exceeding 400 
shall be at a greater height than 14 
feet 0 inches above the ground ad¬ 
joining such building. 

Section 891. Every auditorium or 
assembly hall in School Buildings 
having a seating capacity of more 
than 500 shall be provided with such 


emergency exits and stairways as are 
required for Public Assembly Halls 
unless otherwise approved by the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings. The exits 
shall be marked and lighted as in 
Public Assembly Halls. 

Section 892. The minimum width 
for corridors, passageways, hallways 
end doors in school buildings shall 
be not less than 6 feet 0 inches for 
corridors, passageways and hallways, 
and not less than 3 feet 0 inches for 
doors, except where two or more 
doors are grouped together, in which 
cases the minimum width of each of 
such doors shall be at least 2 feet 
C inches. 

All doors throughout such build¬ 
ings shall open outward, and all en¬ 
trance and exit doors shall be un¬ 
locked at all times when such build¬ 
ings are occupied for school pur¬ 
poses or by the public. The fasten¬ 
ings for all doors shall be of such 
type as may be easily opeiated from 
the inside by means of a lever or 
ether satisfactory device to draw the 
bolts or fastenings. 

Section 893. The width of aisles 
in auditorium and assembly Halls in 
School Buildings shall be as required 
in Public Assembly Halls. All groups 
of seats shall be so arranged that 
they shall have an aisle on each 
side, and not more than 12 seats in 
any one row shall be placed between 
aisles, and all such seats shall be 
securely fastened to the floor. 

Main aisles in class rooms, recita¬ 
tion and study rooms shall not be 
less than 2 feet 6 inches in width 
in their narrowest parts, and ample 
exits shall be provided therefrom, 
provided that individual desk seats 
may be arranged as desired by the 
School Board subject to approval by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

Section 894. Stairways in School 
Buildings based on the combined ca¬ 
pacity cf the auditorium and school 
rooms shall conform to the require¬ 
ments of Public Assembly Halls. 

Provided that School Buildings 
having more than three rooms above 
the first story shall have at least 
two flights of stairs so located that 
each will be accessible from every 
room above the first story. 

Section 895. Ventilation ducts must 
be provided of sufficient capacity to 
change the volume of air in all class 
rooms at least once every 10 min¬ 
utes with continuous operation dur¬ 
ing school hours, except open air 
class rooms. 

Section 896. Every portion of any 
School Building devoted to the public 
and all outlets therefrom leading to 
the streets, shall be well and prop¬ 
erly lighted during the entire time 
such building is occupied by the pub¬ 
lic at night. All gas and electric 
lights in the halls, corridors, lob¬ 
bies, stairs and exits shall be con¬ 
trolled by a separate cut-off, and 
shall be independent of all other 
lights »n such building. 


3fouma 



ommeite 


Subscription $1 per Month 

ELiot 1177 









106 


The Bun ,ding Code 


PART 9 BUILDINGS FOR SPECIAL USES 


Section 910. All buildings used for 
Places of Refuge and Detention, if 
three (3) stories in height above the 
established grade, shall be of fire¬ 
proof or mill construction. Such 
buildings if more than three (3) 
stories high, shall be of fireproof con¬ 
struction; and no such buildings 
other than police stations or jails 
shall exceed six (6) stories in height. 

Section 911. In all corridors and 
rooms used by patients in every 
building hereafter constructed for or 
converted to hospital purposes, all 
reentrant intersections of walls, floors 
and ceilings shall be formed with 
tangent coves. 

Section 912. Every building over 
three (3) stories in height hereafter 
constructed for or converted to hos¬ 
pital purposes shall have at least one 

(1) elevator, the floor dimensions of 
which shall not be less than seven 
(7) feet, no inches, by five (5) feet 
no (0) inches, and said elevator shall 
be enclosed in a fireproof shaft. 

Section 913. All buildings used for 
places of refuge shall be equipped 
with fire escapes not less than three 
(3) feet no (0) inches in width, which 
shall, in number, location and struc¬ 
tural features, comply with all of the 
general provisions of this Code re¬ 
lating to fire escapes. 

Section 920. Stable floors shall be 
constructed either of concrete laid 
directly on the ground, or of wood 
planking on joists. If of concrete, 
the floor shall not be thinner than 
three (3) inches, shall be of con¬ 
crete not leaner than that produced 
by a 1:2:4 mix, and shall have a hard, 
durable, impervious surface. 

Where the floor is of concrete laid 
on the ground, the wall in the rear 
of the stalls shall be constructed of 
concrete to the height of at least two 

(2) feet above the stable floor, and 
shall have a coved base. 

Wood floors may be constructed of 
tongued and grooved or spliced three 

(3) inch plank, with joints made 
watertight by the use of white lead, 
or of three (3) inch plank with bevel 
edges made watertight by calking 
with oakum and pitch, or of two (2) 
inch plank made water tight by cov¬ 
ering it with a waterproof membrane 
on top of which is placed at least two 
and one-half (2%) inches of concrete 
having a hard, impervious surface. 

Yards used for the close confine¬ 
ment of cattle must have concrete 
floors laid directly on the ground. 

Section 921. All stall floors shall 
drain into gutters. Such gutters and 
all sumps for washing of vehicles 
shall be connected to a drainage sys¬ 
tem of cast iron pipe leading to a 
trapped catch basin, and from such 
catch basin proper connections shall 
be made to a public sewer or cesspool. 
Openings from gutters and sumps to 
drains shall be protected by iron 
strainers set in iron frames so as to 
be removable. Drainage pipe shall 
be not less than four (4) inches in 
diameter, except that laterals drain¬ 
ing but one stall may be of three (3) 
inch pipe. Catch basins must be con¬ 
structed of masonry or iron and be 
at least two (2) feet no (0) inches 
in any internal dimension, and be 
provided with vent pipe not more 
than eight (8) inches from seal. 

A three-fourths (%) inch hose bibb, 


equipped with hose, shall be so placed 
that the drainage system may readily 
be flushed, and it shall be required 
that all stable floors be thoroughly 
cleaned and flushed at least twice 
each week. 

Section 922. Every stable must be 
provided with one (1) or more fly- 
tight, water-tight receptacles for ma¬ 
nure constructed of two (2) inch 
tongued and grooved lumber and of 
such dimensions as to contain all ac¬ 
cumulations of manure, and no ma¬ 
nure shall be allowed to accumulate 
on the floors or on adjacent grounds: 
provided, however, that on premises in 
the Third and Fourth Building Dis¬ 
tricts of one (1) acre or more in ex¬ 
tent, manure may be stacked in such a 
way as not to attract flies nor emit of¬ 
fensive odors. Receptacles for ma¬ 
nure located within any building 
shall be vented, through air-tight 
shaft of at least forty-eight (48) 
inches cross-sectional area extending 
above the level of the roof at a point 
not less than twenty (20) feet from 
any adjacent property. 

Section 923. The means of egress 
from stables shall conform to other 
requirements of this Code for means 
of egress from factories and work¬ 
shops, except that from floors accom¬ 
modating animals, the stairways shall 
be replaced by inclines having a slope 
not greater than 1:2. No exit door 
shall be narrower then four (4) feet, 
and no incline narrower than five (5) 
feet. 

Section 930. Size B garages, (those 
having a total floor area of not to ex¬ 
ceed five hundred and fifty (550) 
square feet), may be of frame con¬ 
struction. 

The total floor area of all frame 
constructed Size B garages located 
upon any lot shall not exceed ten per 
cent. (10%) of the total area of said 
lot. 

Section 931. A garage to accommo¬ 
date not more than one (1) automo¬ 
bile may be located in a residence if 
the interior of the garage, except 
outside doors and windows, be ceiled 
with shiplap or matched lumber and 
than lathed and plastered, or ceiled 
with shiplap and covered with two 
(2) thicknesses of plaster board 
breaking joints. 

There shall be no openings into 
other portions of the residence except 
fixed fireproof windows and doors 
constructed as required for fire doors 
or built of at least two (2) thick¬ 
nesses of dry tongued and grooved 
one-inch (1") lumber, and covered on 
the garage side with either tin or gal¬ 
vanized iron. The sheet metal shall 
be lock jointed, as required for fire 
doors, or be a single sheet. In either 
case the metal must be carried around 
the edges of the door to a distance 
of at least two (2) inches on the un¬ 
covered side of the door, and shall 
be securely nailed. The door must 
be self-closing or automatically clos¬ 
ing. The jams and heads must be 
covered with metal to a distance of at 
least four (4) inches beyond the edge 
on both sides. 

Section. 932. One (1), and not more 
than one (1), Size B garage, as de¬ 
fined in this Code, may be located 
in a residence or in any building not 
more than two (2) stories high and 






The Building Code 


107 


We did not make these ordin¬ 
ances, hut we will sell you 
the lumber to conform to them. 


BRACE LUMBER COMPANY 

PHONE CA PITL 3000 
“Three Thousand”—Easy! 

WESTLAKE AT VALLEY 

























108 


The Building Code 


occupied as a transit shed for freight, 
or as a warehouse, factory, store, 
workshop or office building, if the 
walls, partitions , floors and ceilings 
enclosing the garage are of four (4) 
inch solid wood mill construction, 
having plaster on the garage side of 
the enclosing walls, partitions and 
ceilings. When the mill enclosure is 
of laminated construction, the plas¬ 
ter may be omitted on the exterior 
side if the plaster on the garage side 
is appled on metal lath or plaster 
board. When the garage is located 
in the lowest story of the building 
and has enclosing walls of the above 
construction extending to the ground, 
the floor of the garage may be of 
such construction as is required for 
the remainder of the building. 

There shall be no openings into 
other portions of the building except 
self-closing fire doors, or fixed fire¬ 
proof windows. 

Section 933. One (1), and not more 
than one (1), Size B garage as defined 
in this Code, may be located in any 
building more than two (2) stories 
high and occupied as a transit shed 
for freight, or as a warehouse, fac¬ 
tory, workshop, store or office build¬ 
ing, if the walls, floors and ceilings 
enclosing the garage are constructed 
as specified in Section 932 hereof, 
with the further provision that all 
exterior openings shall be fireproof, 
except those on street fronts, and 
that there shall be no openings mto 
other portions of the same building 
unless the garage is equipped 
throughout with an automatic sprink¬ 
ler system, in which case self-closing 
fire doors and fixed fireproof windows 
shall be permitted. 

Section. 934. All buildings which 
are to be occupied as Size A garages 
(those having a total floor area in ex¬ 
cess of five hundred and fifty (550) 
square feet), shall be of fireproof, 
mill or ordinary masonry construc¬ 
tion; provided, however, that ordina¬ 
ry masonry buildings which are more 
than one (1) stdry high or which 
contain more than cne (1) basement, 
shall not contain a Size A garage 
unless the entire floor area occupied 
for garage purposes be equipped with 
an automatic sprinkler system. In 
ordinary masonry garages the floors 
must be double and tight and, if hav¬ 
ing a usable story below, must be at 
least three (3) inches thick. At least 
two (2) inches of the thickness of 
wood floors in ordinary masonry gar¬ 
ages must be of tongued and grooved 
lumber, 'while the other one (1) inch 
must be of lapped or tongued and 
grooved lumber. The partitions in or¬ 
dinary masonry garages may be con¬ 
structed of single two by six (2x6) 
rtongued and grooved lumber placed 
vertically; or horizontally on four by 
fbur (4x4) inch studs. 

Section 935. A garage may be es¬ 
tablished in any one-story, fireproof, 
mill or ordinary masonry building 
not containing a place of public as¬ 
sembly, hospital or children’s home, 
if the walls, partitions, floors and 
ceilings enclosing the garage are fire¬ 
proof or are constructed as specified 
in Section 932 hereof, and contain no 
openings into other portions of the 
building. When the enclosing walls 
and partitions extend to the ground, 
the floor may be constructed as re¬ 
quired. for the remainder of the build¬ 
ing, and if the walls extend to and fit 
tightly against the under side of the 


roof or pass through the roof, the 
ceiling may be constructed as re¬ 
quired for other portions of the build¬ 
ing. Provided, however, that if the 
garage has a total floor area of not 
to exceed three thousand (3,000) 
square feet and is located in a one- 
story store building, warehouse, fac¬ 
tory or workshop of ordinary mason¬ 
ry construction, containing no base¬ 
ment, plastered open stud partitions 
may be used to enclose the garage, if 
they extend from the ground to or 
through the roof or if the floor and 
ceiling are as fre resistive as an or* 
dinary masenry partition. 

Should the garage be equipped 
throughout with an automatic sprin¬ 
kler system, fixed fireproof windows 
and fire doors between the garage and 
other portions of the building will be 
permitted. 

Section 936. No garage shall be 
permitted in any building containing 
a place of refuge or assembly, except 
as follows: 

A garage having a total floor area 
of not to exceed three thousand (3,- 
000) square feet may be located in a 
hospital building, school building, un¬ 
dertaking establishment building, or 
in an office building containing an 
assembly hall, provided the motor ve¬ 
hicles kept in the hospitals, schools 
or undertaking establishments are es¬ 
sential to and used only in connec¬ 
tion with such occupancies. 

It is further required that a garage 
in any of the above mentioned build¬ 
ings must be entirely enclosed by 
firproof construction, must have ail 
exterior openings fireproofed, must be 
equipped throughout with an auto¬ 
matic sprinkler system and must 
have no openings into other portions 
of the same building. All exterior 
door end window openings into the 
place of assembly, or into the corri¬ 
dor leading thereto, must be fireproof 
if within twenty-five (25) feet of any 
exterior garage door openings in the 
same building. 

Section 937. Except as otherwise 
herein provided, no garage shall be 
located in any building which is 
partly used for any other purpose 
unless the space occupied by the ga¬ 
rage is entirely separated from other 
parts of the building by fireproof con¬ 
struction equivalent to that required 
for stair and elevator enclosures and 
containing no openings into other 
portions of the building except door 
openings having two (2) independent 
fire doors on each, one of which must 
be self-closing but may be a Class 
“B” door; or unless the part of the 
building occupied by the garage is 
separated by partitions, floors and 
ceilings of four (4) inch solid wood 
mill construction other than lam¬ 
inated, or of six (6) inch laminated 
mill construction, either of which, 
unless forming the floor of the ga¬ 
rage, must have metal lath or plas¬ 
terboard, and plaster on the garage 
side. Provided, that when the garage 
is separated by the wood and plaster 
construction instead of fireproof, it 
shall be equipped throughout with 
automatic sprinklers and have all ex¬ 
terior openings fireproofed except 
those on street fronts and have no 
openings into any part of the building 
used for another purpose except that 
fire doors are permitted when the floor 
area of the garage is not in excess of 
five hundred and fifty (550) square 
feet. 





The Building Code 


109 s 


Nothing in this Code shall be con¬ 
strued to prohibit the keeping of mo¬ 
tor driven fire apparatus in buildings 
used solely as fire stations, police 
stations, or a combination of them, 
and having no separation between 
the garage and other portions of the 
building. 

Section 940. No film exchange shall 
be located in any basement nor in 
any building which is 

(a) More than two (2) stories high, 

(b) Of frame construction. 

(c) Occupied in whole or in part as 
a place of assembly, habita¬ 
tion, refuge or detention, nor 
in which more than fifty (50) 
people not employed in a film 
exchange, congregate at any 
one time. 

All film exchanges shall have all 
exterior openings fireproofed, except 
those on street fronts. 

Section 941. All film not in use 
nor being worked upon shall be placed 
in metal shipping cases or in individ¬ 
ual metal reel containers constructed 
without solder and having tightly fit¬ 
ting covers, and shall be kept in fire¬ 
proof vaults constructed as herein¬ 
after specified. 

Fireproof film vaults shall contain 
not more than seven hundred fifty 
(750) cubic feet of space and shall 
be supported entirely by masonry 
from the ground up. The floor and 
ceiling of the vault shall be of rein¬ 
forced concrete slabs not less than 
six (6) inches thick. The walls shall 
be of reinforced concrete not less 
than six (6) inches thick, unrein¬ 
forced concrete not less than eight 
(8) inches thick, or brick not less 
than eight (8) inches thick, laid in 
cement mortar. 

Each vault shall be provided with 
a vent constructed as required for 
the walls of' the vault or shall have 
reinforced concrete walls not less 
than four (4) inches thick securely 
anchored to the ceiling slab. The 
vent must extend at least six (6) feet 
above the roof and shall terminate 
sixteen (16) feet from any combusti¬ 
ble wall x non-fireproof opening or fire 
escape. The cross sectional area of 
the vent shall be not less than one 
and seven-eights (1%) inches for 
every cubic foot of vault space. 

A light wire screen not coarser 
than one-eight (%) inch mesh shall 
be placed across each vent to prevent 
the ingress of fire and the egress of 
burning film. All racks for separating 
films shall be constructed entirely of 
fireproof or incombustible material. 
No shelves shall be permitted within 
any vault. 

Each film vault shall be equipped 
with an automatic sprinkler system 
having one standard head for each 
sixty-two and one-half (62 y 2 ) cubic 
feet of vault space. Between sprink¬ 
ler heads, sheet metal baffle plates 
shall be provided and shall extend 
from the ceiling to not less than eight 
(8) inches below the heads. 

All lights in, vaults shall be vapor 
proof, incandescent electric lamps 
located on the ceiling and properly 
guarded and shall be controlled by 
a switch outside of the vault. 

No vault shall be heated artificially. 

No vault shall contain any openings 
other than the vent and one door, 
which latter shall be protected on 
each side of the wall by Class “A” 
fire doors, provided further, that the 


inner door shall be of a sliding type 
and the outer a swinging door which 
must close into a two (2) inch rabbet 
at the bottom, as well as on the sides 
and top. The automatic closing de¬ 
vice on both doors shall be so ar¬ 
ranged that the door will be released 
by a fire, either inside or outside of 
the vault. The inner door shall be 
provided with a substantial guard to 
prevent films being placed against it. 
A film storage rack securely support¬ 
ed and having a clearance of two (2) 
inches from the door shall be consid¬ 
ered equivalent to the above required 
guard. The outer door of the vault 
shall be provided with a self-latching 
device having substantial catches at 
three (3) points all simultaneously 
operated by the action of a master 
lever. All parts of such latching de¬ 
vice shall be made of wrought strap 
iron not less than one and one-half 
(1 Y 2 ) inches by one-quarter (%) inch 
and when in closed position shall 
hold the door tightly fastened. Such 
latching device shall be provided with 
an attachment by which it may be 
operated manually from either the in¬ 
side or outside of the vault. 

Section 942. Every film exchange 
in which film is examined and re¬ 
paired must be provided with a room 
for that purpose, which shall be 
known as the Examination Room. It 
shall have walls, floor and ceiling of 
fireproof or plastered mill construc¬ 
tion and shall have its interior open¬ 
ings fireproofed and automatically 
closing. 

Every Examination Room having a 
floor area of two hundred and fifty 
(250) square feet or more shall have 
two (2) easily accessible means of 
egress located as far apart as prac¬ 
ticable. 

There shall be provided in the ceil¬ 
ing of every Examination Room a 
vent having a cross-sectional area of 
at least one-fourth ( X A ) square inch 
for every square foot of floor area 
and constructed of double No. 24 
gauge galvanized sheet metal with 
one (1) inch of asbestos between the 
sheets. Examination Rooms shall be 
heated only by hot air, hot water or 
steam, and metal shields or screens 
shall be provided to prevent film from 
coming in contact with radiators or 
heated pipes. No hot air floor reg¬ 
isters shall be used. 

All extensions of electric wiring in 
Examination Rooms shall be made 
with conduit or armoured cable and 
the room shall be lighted only by in¬ 
candescent lamps enclosed in vapor 
proof globes and properly guarded. 

Motors for the operation of re¬ 
winds or for other purposes shall be 
of the fully enclosed non-sparking 
type and shall have no exposed live 
metal parts. 

Examination Rooms shall be equip¬ 
ped with automatic sprinklers con¬ 
structed as required for automatic 
sprinkling systems in this Code, ex¬ 
cept that there shall be one (1) head 
for every fifty (50) square feet of 
floor area. 

Section 943. A room used for the 
packing or unpacking of film shall 
be known as a Shipping Room, which 
shall be constructed and equipped as 
required for Examination Room. 

Section 944. Where a motion pic¬ 
ture machine is used for projecting 
films for display or other purposes 
it shall be enclosed in a booth con- 





110 


The Building Code 


structed in accordance with the re* 
quirements found elsewhere in this 
Code, and shall be equipped with auto¬ 
matic sprinklers as required for ex¬ 
amination rooms. 

Section. 945. Every film exchange 
in which film is cleaned by the use of 
ether, alcohol or other inflammable 
liquids, shall be provided with a 
cleaning room for such purpose. It 
shall be constructed and equipped as 
required for examination rooms and 
in addition shall be provided with a 
mechanical ventilating system of suf¬ 
ficient capacity to keep the room free 
from inflammable or injurious va¬ 
pors. 

Section 950. Every dock, wharf or 
pier, unless of fireproof construction, 
must be provided with draft curtains 
not over one hundred (100) feet apart 
measured parallel to the main axis of 
the dock. They must be constructed 
of at least two (2) thicknesses of two 
(2) inch plank laid with broken joints 
or of equally fire resisting material, 
must fit tightly around all joists or 
beams and must extend from the un¬ 
der side of the floor to City datum if 
constructed over salt water and to 
the water level if constructed over 
fresh witer. 

Section 951. Except as otherwise 
provided, every waterfront building 
of frame construction shall have its 
entire exterior, exclusive of roof and 
window sash, covered with galvan¬ 
ized iron or asbestos cement shingles 
or sheets not thinner than one- 
fourth 0/4) inch, any of which may 
be nailed to one-inch shiplap, or it 
shall be covered with at least one 
thickness of thoroughly air or kiln 
dried two (2) by six (6) inch tongued 
and grooved flooring placed vertically 
on girts not smaller than four (4) 
inches in least dimension. 

The roof must be thoroughly air or 
kiln dried tongued and grooved lum¬ 
ber not thinner than two (2) inches 
nor wider than six (6) inches, and 
must be covered with the roofing re¬ 
quired for mill buildings; provided, 
however, that galvanized iron at¬ 
tached directly to steel or wood pur¬ 
lins may be used. 

In waterfront buildings no posts 
shall be less than eight (8) inches in 
least dimension, no beam, joist, gird- 

PART 10 MISCELLi 

Section 1001, Except in places of 
habitation, refuge, detention or as¬ 
sembly, temporary partitions of wood, 
glass, plasterboard, wall board, beaver 
board or a combination of same may 
be constructed in any building or any 
balcony therein, provided the aggre¬ 
gate length of such partitions or 
screens in any room does not exceed 
one-half ( V 2 ) the sum of the lengths 
of all walls or partitions constructed 
as required for the class of building 
and enclosing said room. Provided, 
further, that in a place of assembly 
with a seating capacity of not more 
than five hundred (500), there may be 
constructed one-half ( y 2 ) as much of 
the above specified temporary parti¬ 
tions as is permitted in stores, fac¬ 
tories, etc. 

If the space enclosed by such par¬ 
titions or screens be covered, such 
covering shall be constructed as a 
ceiling and not as a floor, unless com¬ 
plying with the requirements for 
balconies. 


er, purlin or truss member less than 
six (6) inches, and no brace, girt or 
stud less than four (4) inches in 
least dimension. 

Section 952. Every waterfront 
building, unless it be fireproof, shall 
be provided with fire walls not over 
five hunlred feet aprrt and roof cur¬ 
tains not over one hundred (100) feet 
apart, measured parallel to the main 
axis of the building. The fire walls 
shall be constructed of two (2) thick¬ 
nesses of two (2) inch tongued and 
grooved or shiplapped lumber not over 
six (6) inches wide and placed verti¬ 
cally with broken joints. They shall 
extend from the bottom of the draft 
curtain to at least three (3) feet 
above the roof 

The roof curtains shall fit tightly 
against the under side of the roof 
and shall extend to the bottom of the 
trusses. They shall be constructed 
as required for fire walls or of one 
thickness of tight one (1) by four (4) 
inch matched lumber with plaster 
board tightly fitted and securely 
nailed on one side. 

Openings through fire walls and 
roof curtains shall be minimized in 
size and number and shall be protect¬ 
ed with automatic fire doors. 

Section 953. All waterfront build¬ 
ings shall be equipped throughout 
with automatic sprinkler systems 
conforming to the specifications found 
elsewhere in this Code. 

Section 954. If the superstructure 
of a building which is constructed on 
piles above the water conforms to all 
the provisions of this Code relating to 
an identical superstructure which is 
not over the water, it shall be exempt 
from the special provisions herein ap¬ 
plying to waterfront buildings. 

Section 955. Nothing in this Code 
shall be construed to prevent the 
erection of what are known as grain 
elevators, as usually and properly 
constructed, provided they are erect¬ 
ed in isolated localities and under 
such reasonable requirements as the 
Superintendent of Buildings may pre¬ 
scribe, including location. 

Nothing in this Code shall be con¬ 
strued to prevent the erection of coal 
pockets or coal elevators as usually 
and properly constructed under simi¬ 
lar conditions, including location. 

SIEOUS PROVISIONS 

Section 1002. When the space above 
or below a balcony is to be used for 
offices, or continuous occupancy by 
laborers of any class, there shall be 
not less than seven (7) feet six (6) 
inches of height in the clear above or 
below the balcony and such space 
shall be properly ventilated. When 
the space above or below a balcony 
is used for other purposes, the clear 
height shall not be less than six (6) 
feet six (6) inches. 

No balcony shall be designed for a 
floor load of less than fifty (50) 
pounds per square foot. 

In fireproof buildings balconies 
may, except as otherwise provided, be 
built of mill construction. 

Balconies in mill, ordinary masonry 
or frame buildings shall be construct¬ 
ed in accordance with the require¬ 
ments for floors in the building in 
which they are located except that 
the balcony posts and girders in mill 
buildings need not be more than six 
(6) inches in least dimension. 









The Building Code 


111 


Section 1003. In the First Build¬ 
ing District, no bay window shall 
project into any street or alley. 

In other building districts, bay win¬ 
dows shall not project into any alley 
nor extend more than two (2) feet 
beyond the street line nor shall any 
such window projecting beyond the 
street line be less than twelve (12) 
feet above the established grade 
thereof. 

Bay windows on fireproof or frame 
buildings shall be constructed as re¬ 
quired for other parts of the building 
of which they are a part. 

Bay windows on ordinary masonry 
and mill buildings shall have their 
walls, roofs and bottoms constructed 
as required for partitions in mill 
buildings with the additional pro¬ 
vision that the entire exterior, ex¬ 
clusive of windows, window frames 
and casings shall be covered with 
sheet metal or other incombustible 
material. Such material shall extend 
under the casings to the openings. At 
each floor level a fireproof beam shall 
be placed across the opening left in 
the wall for the bay window, which 
beam shall be anchored at each end 
sufficiently to hold together the parts 
of the wall on each side of the win¬ 
dow. The aggregate width of bay 
windows in any wall shall not ex¬ 
ceed fifty (50) per cent, of the length 
of said wall, nor shall the length of 
wall between two bay windows be 
less than four (4) feet, no (0) inches. 

Section 1004. Exterior balconies, 
other than fire escape balconies, and 
those on frame buildings, shall be 
constructed of iron, steel or masonry; 
shall not project into any alley; nor 
extend more than two (2) feet be¬ 
yond the street line; nor be less than 
twelve (12) feet in clear above the 
established grade of any street above 
which they are nlaced. 

Section 1005. No cornice, belt 
course, moulding or similar appendage 
shall project into an alley unless said 
projection shall at all points be at 
least fourteen (14) feet in clear above 
the established grade of said alley, 
in which case it may project a dis¬ 
tance of not to exceed one (1) foot; 
provided, however, that cornice and 
belt course returns, not more than 
six (6) feet in length, may project 
into alleys the same distance as per¬ 
mitted for their projection into 
streets. No part of any cornice, belt 
course, moulding and similar projec¬ 
tion which is less than eight (8) feet 
above the established grade shall ex¬ 
tend over a street; provided that from 
eight (8) to fifteen (15) feet above 
said grade they may extend twelve 
(12) inches over a street; from fifteen 
to twenty (15 to 20) feet they may 
extend two (2) feet, while above 


r 


twenty (20) feet above grade the ex¬ 
tension may be increased one (1) inch 
for each three (3) feet of added 
height until a five (5) feet extension 
is reached, which shall be maximum 

Except on frame buildings, one (1) 
story buildings and buildings occupied 
exclusively as residences, all cornices, 
hollow belt courses, hollow mouldings 
and similar projections shall be con¬ 
structed of incombustible material, 
and shall be securely attached to the 
masonry walls by metal supports 
where supports are necessary. 

Section 1006. Dormer windows 
shall have their walls and roofs con¬ 
structed and covered as required for 
the roof of the building of which 
they are a part. Provided further that 
the walls may be covered with ce¬ 
ment plaster. 

Section 1007. Penthouses on fire¬ 
proof buildings shall be of fireproof 
construction; on mill and ordinary 
masonry buildings penthouse walls 
shall be constructed as required for 
mill partitions except that they shall 
not be less than four (4) inches thick 
and shall be covered on the exterior 
with lock jointed sheet metal not 
lighter than No. 24 Gage, 
nailed over asbestos paper not 
thinner than one-sixteenth (1/16) or 
over one-quarter (%) inch plaster¬ 
board, or said penthouses shall be 
covered with cement plaster, one- 
quarter (%) inch asbestos cement 
board or equivalent. The roof shall 
be constructed and covered as re¬ 
quired for mill buildings or be of the 
same construction as the walls. 

Towers and spires on fireproof 
buildings shall be of fireproof con¬ 
struction; on mill buildings they shall 
be constructed as required for walls 
of penthouses; on ordinary masonry 
buildings they shall be constructed as 
required for mill buildings, or be 
constructed with a frame work of 
timbers not smaller than six (6) 
inches in least dimension covered 
with two by six (2x6) inch t.ongued 
and grooved lumber, the surface of 
which shall be covered as required 
for pent-houses. 

On mill or ordinary masonry build¬ 
ings the total cross-sectional area at 
the bases of all towers or spires con¬ 
structed above any division of the 
buildings shall not exceed four hun¬ 
dred (400) square feet. 

Section 1008. Towers or spires on 
frame buildings may be of frame con¬ 
struction, provided the total cross- 
sectional area at the bases of the 
towers on any division of the build¬ 
ing shall not exceed two hundred 
and fifty (250) square feet. 

Section 1009. Skylights except in 
residences, frame buildings and over 




J. WEBB KITCHEN & CO. 

BETTER AWNINGS 

RECESS BOXES 

TENTS AND CANVAS 

New Location: 2113-15-17 Second Avenue Seattle, Wash. 

___ / 














112 


The Building Code 


theater stages shall be constructed 
with metal sash and frames, glazed 
with wire glass. 

Section 1010. Water tanks placed 
above the roof of fireproof, mill or 
ordinary masonry buildings shall be 
supported by steel or masonry extend¬ 
ing from the surface of the roof to 
the under side of the tank except that 
the chime beams may be of creosoted 
wood. Below the roof, in buildings 
other than fireproof, the load may be 
carried on mill constructed wood 
framework. 

Section 1011. Every window con¬ 
structed so that it is usual or neces¬ 
sary for a person to stand on the 
outside sill or ledge to clean the win¬ 
dow, and having its sill more than 
twelve (12) feet above the ground, 
shall have a sill at least six (6) 
inches wide with a slope not greater 
than one (1) to six (6), and shall have 
securely fastened at each side of the 
window a safety anchorage to which 
may be fastened a window cleaner’s 
safety belt. Such anchorage shall 
be of good quality brass or bronze 
with a high tensile strength and 
when placed in the wall shall be 
capable of supporting a vertically 
acting static load of one thousand 
(lOlOO) pounds. 

The anchorage bolt shall in no case 
be smaller than one-half ( y 2 ) inch 
diameter, shall have a head or nut 
on the inner end and shall be imbed¬ 
ded, at least eight (8) inches in the 
solid masonry or extend through the 
wall or mullion. Anchorage bolts 
need not be placed on all wood mul- 
lions supporting the sash provided 


the bolts are located not farther 
apart than six (6) feet. 

Section 1012. All buildings now or 
hereafter erected, shall be provided 
with gutters and downspouts con¬ 
nected to sewer, street gutter, or ef¬ 
fective dry well, when necessary to 
protect adjacent property from dam¬ 
age or to prevent water from flowing 
across sidewalks; provided, however, 
that no roof water shall be permit¬ 
ted to run into any street gutter 
when the sidewalk under which the 
water would necessarily be conducted 
is of concrete extending from the 
curb to the property line. 

Section 1013. Fences between lots 
or within eighteen (18) inches of the 
party line shall in no case be more 
than six (6) feet high above the grade 
of the highest lot, unless constructed 
of lattice with openings which are at 
least as wide as the lattice strips. 

Section 1014. It shall be unlawful 
for any person to erect, maintain, 
use or occupy any tent, covered 
wagon or other vehicle within the 
First or Second Building District, or 
to use or occupy same within fifteen 
(15) feet of any building not owned 
by the same owner or occupied by the 
same tenant in the Third or Fourth 
Building District, or to use or occupy 
same for any purpose other than 
lodging. 

Section 1016. The Board of Public 
Works is hereby authorized and em¬ 
powered, upon the application being 
made in writing therefor, stating the 
purpose for which said building or 
structure is to be used, and accom¬ 
panied by plans and specifications 


r--^ 

INDEPENDENCE 

INDEMNITY COMPANY 


America’s Great Surety Company 
FAST EFFICIENT SERVICE 

Harold J. Buckle, Inc. 

GENERAL AGENT. 

MA in 1664. White Bldg., Seattle. 









The Building Code 


113 


showing in detail the construction of 
such building or structure, and the 
means of exit therefrom, and of sani¬ 
tation and fire protection to be pro¬ 
vided therein, to authorize the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings to issue per¬ 
mits for the erection, use and occu¬ 
pancy of temporary wooden build¬ 
ings, tents and other structures not 
more than one (1) story in height, to 
be used for the purpose of holding re¬ 
ligious services therein, convention 
halls, carnivals, fair or exposition 
purposes and other public assem¬ 
blages, or for stables, workshops, 
boarding houses or sleeping apart¬ 
ments used in connection with the 
grading of streets or other public 
works; to specify in detail how such 
building or other structure shall be 
erected, used and occupied; to pro¬ 
vide that such building or structure 
shall be demolished and all material 
therein contained or used in connec¬ 
tion therewith, and all debris result¬ 
ing from such use, shall be removed 
from the premises where such build¬ 
ing or structure is located within a 
time specified in such permit, which 
time shall be not more than six (6) 
months from the granting of such 
permit; a,nd to provide and specify 
the means of fire protection to be in¬ 
stalled and maintained in connection 
with such building or structure, and 
the means for securing and main¬ 
taining sanitary conditions in connec¬ 
tion therewith. 

In the event that such permit for 
the erection of such temporary build¬ 
ing or structure shall be authorized 
by the Board of Public Works, the 
applicant therefor shall file with the 
City Comptroller a bond to the City 
of Seattle with good and sufficient 
sureties, to be approved by the Mayor 
and Comptroller, in a penal sum to 
be fixed by the Board of Publio 
Works, and conditioned that he will, 
on or before the date set in such per¬ 
mit for the demolition and removal 
of such building or structure, demol¬ 
ish such building or structure and 
remove from the premises where the 
same is erected all material therein 
contained and used in connection 
therewith, and all debris resulting 
from the use thereof, place the said 
premises in a sanitary condition, and 
restore them, as near as may be, to 
the condition in which they existed 
prior to the erection of such building 
or structure; and conditioned further, 
that in case the principal on said bond 
shall fail, refuse or neglect to com¬ 
ply with the conditions hereof and of 
the permit for the issuance of which 
such bond is executed, the City of 
Seattle, by its duly authorized of¬ 
ficers, may enter upon the premises 
and demolish said building or struc¬ 
ture and remove the same and all ma¬ 
terial used in connection therewith, 
and that the cost and expense thereof 
may be recovered from the principal 
and sureties on said bond. 

Nothing in this section contained 
shall be construed as requiring or 
directing the Board of Public Works 
to issue any permit for the erection 
of any temporary building or struc¬ 
ture as in this Section provided, but 
the Board of Public Works may in all 
cases refuse to issue or grant such 
permit. 

Section 1017. In all buildings hav¬ 
ing more than two (2) stories whether 
above or below the street grade, and 


in which permanent floors are not 
constructed at the time the frame or 
walls are constructed, not more than 
one (1) story of the frame or wall 
shall be constructed without con¬ 
structing a temporary floor of plank 
laid close, for the protection of work¬ 
men or others above, below or on such 
temporary floors, and such temporary 
floors shall be constructed as the 
building progresses at each alternate 
floor, and no permanent floor masonry 
shall be constructed unless there be 
the permanent or a temporary floor in 
the story immediately below it. 

Section 1018. During the construc¬ 
tion or alteration of all buildings 
more than 30'0" in height, all stair¬ 
ways, elevator openings, flues and all 
other openings in the floors and roofs, 
shall be covered or protected by rail¬ 
ings or wire netting at least 4'0" in 
height at all times, except when such 
openings are being used for hoisting 
or lowering material. 

Section 1019. During the construc¬ 
tion of all buildings over three (3) 
stories in height, temporary plank 
stairs of not less than five (5) inch 
run and not more than twelve (12) 
inch rise, protected with hand rails, 
shall be constructed and kept in good 
repair and clear from material until 
the permanent stairs are constructed. 
All temporary stairways shall be well 
lighted either by natural or artificial 
light during working hours. 

Section 1021. During the construc¬ 
tion, alteration or demolition of any 
building or part of a building which 
shall extend 2 stories or more above 
any other portion of such building 
or any adjoining building, the roof 
of such other portion or of such ad¬ 
joining building and all skylights 
therein, shall be protected by cover¬ 
ing said roof with planks or boards 
laid close to prevent injury to the 
roof covering, and by suspending over 
any skylights, on stout timbers prop¬ 
erly secured a stout wire netting 
with a mesh of not over y 2 inch, 
which netting shall be not less than 
l'O" above the glass in any such sky¬ 
light, and shall be stretched taut and 
securely fastened to the supports., 

Section 1022. All scaffolds and 
sidewalk bridges erected for the pro¬ 
tection of workmen or the public or 
for use in the erection, repair, alter¬ 
ation or demolition of buildings, shall 
be well and safely constructed and 
supported, and of sufficient width to 
secure the safety of persons walking 
thereon, or passing under or by the 
same, and to prevent the falling 
thereof or of any material that may 
be used, placed or deposited thereon. 

When scaffolds are 45'0" or more 
in height, whether pole or thrust-out 
scaffolds, there shall be erected on 
the outer edge and ends an enclosure 
of wire netting of not more than 2- 
inch mesh or of boards not less than 
% inch thick, placed not over iy 2 
inch apart, well secured to uprights 
not less than 2 inches x 4 inches in 
dimensions, fastened to planks or 
timbers, and resting on putlogs or 
thrust-outs. Such enclosures shall 
be carried up at least 5'0" in advance 
over the level on which the workmen 
are working. The thrust-outs shall 
be strong enough to sustain a dis¬ 
tributed load of 30 pounds per square 
foot of staging surface, and be made 




114 


The Building Code 


stronger as required if material is 
to be left thereon. 

The flooring on thrust-outs and 
putlogs shall be tightly constructed 
with plank, and the floor and enclo¬ 
sure shall not be removed until a like 
floor and enclosure is in position on 
the story above. If another story 
or other stories are being raised above 
any scaffold while the same is being 
used, such scaffold shall be covered 
for the full width above the workmen 
with well secured plank. 

Section 1023. All sheds, enclosures, 
scaffolds, staging, ropes, blocks, 
tackle, swinging scaffolds, temporary 
floors and stairs, and other building 
appliances erected or used during the 
construction, alteration, painting or 
repair of any building, shall be of 
good quality, adapted to the purpose 
for which used, erected and main¬ 
tained in a workmanlike manner and 
subject to inspection and approval by 
the Superintendent of Buildings. 

All scaffolding or staging when in 
use twenty (20) feet or more above 
the ground or floor and which is 
swung or suspended from an over¬ 
head support, shall have a safety rail 
of wood or other material of suf¬ 
ficient strength to amply and fully 
protect all persons who may be work¬ 
ing on such scaffolding or staging, 
such rail to rise at least thirty-six 
(36) inches above the floor or floors 
or main portions of such scaffolding 
or staging and extending along the 
entire length of the outside, and the 
ends thereof and properly and safely 
attached thereto, and such scaffolding 
or staging shall be fastened so as to 
prevent the same from swaying from 
the building or structure or place of 
work where such scaffolding or stag¬ 
ing is being used. Any and all parts 
of such scaffolding or staging shall 
be of sufficient strength to support, 
bear or withstand any weight of per¬ 
sons, tools, appliances or materials 
that may be placed thereon or that 
are to be supported thereby while 
such scaffolding or staging is being 
used for any of the purposes thereof. 

In addition to the duties imposed 
upon an employer by any law regu¬ 
lating or relating to scaffolding or 
staging, it shall be the duty of such 
employer who uses or permits the use 
of scaffolding or staging as defined 
herein in connection with the con¬ 
struction, alteration, repair, painting, 
cleaning or the doing of any kind of 
work, upon any building or structure, 
or other thing or place of work, to 
furnish safety lines to tie all hooks 


and hangers iback on the roof of such 
building or structure, and to provide 
safety lines hanging from the roof, 
securely tied thereto, and one such 
line to be provided between each pair 
of hangers or falls and near the ends 
of such scaffolding or staging. The 
platform of every such scaffolding or 
staging shall be not less than two 
(2) feet wide and shall extend the 
entire length of the same. All rope 
used in the operation of every such 
scaffolding or staging shall be not 
less than three-fourths (%) of an 
inch in diameter. All such scaffold¬ 
ing or staging shall be equipped with 
adequate block and tackle of the best 
material obtainable. 

Section 1025. Alterations and re¬ 
pairs to any extent may be made to 
any building, providing the resulting 
building after such alterations and 
repairs complies with the require¬ 
ments of this Code for new buildings. 

Any building, whose height and use 
conform to the requirements of this 
Code for the district in which the 
building is located, may be altered or 
repaired with the kinds of material 
and construction required by this 
Code for said building and district. 

No building whose construction is 
of a lower class than is herein re¬ 
quired for a new building in the same 
location shall be altered by having 
an addition added thereto, unless the 
safety of life and property are there¬ 
by increased. 

Nothing in this Code shall be con¬ 
strued to prevent the use of materials 
and construction of a higher class 
than is called for in the sections reg¬ 
ulating alterations and repairs. 

Section 1026. Except as herein 
otherwise provided, no mill building 
shall be altered or repaired unless 
the alterations and repairs are made 
in accordance with all the Building 
Code provisions pertaining to mill 
buildings. 

Section 1027. Except as herein 
otherwise provided, no ordinary ma¬ 
sonry building, whose height or use 
does not conform to the requirements 
of this Code, shall be altered or re¬ 
paired, unless the alterations and re¬ 
pairs are made in accordance with all 
the Building Code provisions pertain¬ 
ing to mill buildings; provided, how¬ 
ever, that mill construction bearing 
partitions may be used in lieu of posts 
and girders and that the height of 
the building shall not be increased 
either in number of stories or in feet. 

Section 1028. Except as herein 


/-\ 

The chances are you will build but one home. Why not 
build it right? Keep away from liens, lawsuits and other un¬ 
pleasantness ! 

We have a department that furnishes this service without 
charge. Let our representative explain it to you. 


KNEISLEY LUMBER CO. 

(Pronounce It—NIZELY) 

5015 Rainier Avenue Phone RA nier 0051 

v_____ / 









The Building Code 


115 


otherwise provided, no frame build¬ 
ing- in the Third or Fourth Building 
District, whose height or use does 
not conform to the requirements of 
this Code, shall be altered or repaired 
unless the alterations and repairs are 
made in accordance with all the 
Building Code provisions pertaining 
to ordinary masonry buildings, nor 
shall any frame building in the First 
or Second Building District be altered 
or repaired unless said alterations 
and repairs are made in accordance 
with all the Building Code provisions 
pertaining to mill buildings, except 
that mill constructed bearing parti¬ 
tions may be used in lieu of posts and 
girders; provided, however, that the 
height shall not be increased either 
in number of stories or in feet. 

J?o permit shall be issued to alter 
or repair any frame building in the 
First or Second Building District if 
the cost of making the alterations and 
repairs, plus the total cost of all al¬ 
terations and repairs made during 
the ten (101 consecutive preceding 
years, exceeds fifty per cent. (50%) 
of the building’s value after deduct¬ 
ing therefrom the cost of all altera¬ 
tions and repairs made during the 
ten (10) preceding years. 

Section 1029. Alterations and re¬ 
pairs rendered necessary by condem¬ 
nation and regrading of streets may 
be made to any building with the 
kinds of materials and construction 
originally used therein. 

Whenever any portion of a lot or 
lots is taken for public use, any 
building located, in whole or in part, 
on said portion may be moved to that 
part of the premises not taken for 
public use, if there be sufficient room. 

Whenever any street is regraded 
in such manner as to necessitate the 
adjustment of an existing building 
to the new grade, such building may 
be raised, lowered, or have stories 
added above or below the same, pro¬ 
vided such additional stories do not 
increase the height of such building 
or the number of stories beyond that 
allowed by this Code; and, provided 
further, that in the First and Second 
Building Districts any such addition¬ 
al lower story or stories shall have 
masonry walls, as required for new 
buildings in such districts; and pro¬ 
vided further, that frame buildings 
in the First, second and Third Build¬ 
ing Districts, in case of condemna¬ 
tion or regrade, may be moved else¬ 
where into locations where such 
buildings are permitted. 

Section 1030. Whenever any build¬ 
ing is damaged by fire, the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings is authorized to 
estimate the extent of said damage, 
which estimate shall be used as a 


basis for the issuance of a permit 
to repair or reconstruct said building. 

If a building is damaged by fire or 
the act of God in excess of fifty per 
cent. (50%), and less than seventy- 
five per cent. (75%), of the value of 
the building, the damaged portion 
shall not be reconstructed except in 
accordance with the requirements of 
this Code for new buildings. In the 
remaining portion where reconstruc¬ 
tion is not necessary, repairs may 
be made in accordance with the pro¬ 
visions of this Code governing alter¬ 
ations and repairs. 

Where fire or the act of God causes 
damage to a building amounting to 
less than fifty per cent. (50%) of the 
value of the building, the damaged 
portion may be reconstructed with 
the kinds of materials and construc¬ 
tion originally used in the building. 

If a building is damaged by fire or 
the act of God in excess of seventy- 
five per cent. (75%) of the value of 
the building, the building shall either 
be demolished or reconstructed in ac¬ 
cordance with the requirements of 
this Code. 

Section 1050. Every billposter shall 
pay an annual license fee of two 
hundred fifty ($250.00) dollars and 
one (1) per cent, of the gross income 
derived from his billposting business, 
which one (1) per cent, of gross in¬ 
come shall be determined quarterly 
for the quarters ending March 31st, 
June 30th, September 30th and De¬ 
cember 31st, and shall be payable 
within fifteen (15) days after the ter¬ 
mination of each such quarter. At 
the end of each such quarter every 
billposter shall immediately file with 
the City Treasurer a sworn state¬ 
ment setting forth the gross receipts 
derived from the business of such bill¬ 
poster tor such quarter. 

The books of every billposter shall 
be open to inspection of the license 
inspector of the City at all times for 
the purpose of determining the cor¬ 
rectness of any statement as to gross 
receipts. 

The license herein provided for 
shall be issued by the City Comp¬ 
troller and ex-officio City Clerk on the 
presentation to him of the receipt of 
the City Treasurer showing payment 
of the license fee. 

The above provisions relating to 
license fees shall not apply to the 
painting or affixing of advertisements 
on the walls of permanent buildings. 

Section 1051. Every person who 
owns a billboard shall keep on file 
with the City Comptroller, a surety 
company bond, approved as to surety 
by the Mayor and City Comptroller, 
and as to form by the Corporation 
Counsel; the amount of which bond 
shall equal a total of one thousand 


SPECIAL PRICES MADE ON 

BUILDERS' PAINTS 

FINEST ENAMELS—UNDER-C0ATERS 
WALL PAINT AND VARNISHES 

J. W. MERRIMAN 









116 


The Building Code 


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The Building Code 


117 


($1,000.00) dollars for each billboard 
owned by him, except that no bond 
shall be required hereunder, in excess 
of ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars; 
such bond to remain in full force and 
effect during the time said billboard 
is maintained as such; such bond to 
be conditioned that such person shall 
faithfully comply with all provisions 
of this ordinance with respect to the 
construction, alteration, location and 
safety of billboards erected, con¬ 
structed or maintained by such per¬ 
son, and conditioned further to indem¬ 
nify and keep the City of Seattle 
harmless from any and all claims, 
damages, losses, actions, suits or 
judgments which may be presented, 
sustained, brought or secured against 
the City or any of its officials on 
account of the construction, erection 
or maintenance, alteration or removal 
of any billboard, or by reason of any 
accidents resulting thereform. 

No bond shall be required for a 
billboard the solid portion of whose 
advertising surface contains less than 
forty-eight (48) square feet, or for a 
billboard having its surface placed 
against the wall of a building. 

Section 1052. Every billposter shall 
cause his name to plainly appear at 
all times on every structure, or por¬ 
tion thereof, upon which he places 
advertisements. 

Section 1053. All billboards shall 
be constructed so as to withstand a 
wind pressure of thirty (30) pounds 
per square foot, without exceeding 
the maximum stresses specified in 
this Code. 

Billboards may be constructed and 
maintained in any Building District, 
but shall be built and maintained so 
as to withstand a wind pressure of 
thirty pounds per square foot, with¬ 
out exceeding the maximum stresses 
specified in this Code, and in accord¬ 
ance with the provisions hereinafter 
set forth. 

Billboards fastened to masonry 
walls of a building shall be attached 
thereto with bolts of ample strength 
extending not less than four (4) 
inches into the masonry. The fasten¬ 
ing of billboards to wood blocks set 
in the masonry will not be permitted. 

All billboards in the First, Second 
or Third Building Districts, having 
a solid advertising surface of an area 
in excess of forty-eight (48) square 
feet, shall be faced with metal. 

Section 1054. In the First, Second 
or Third Building Districts, any bill¬ 
board located on the roof of a build¬ 
ing shall be constructed entirely of 
metal, except the following which 
may be of wood: 

The sills which are laid on the 
roof and to which the metal supports 
are attached; the horizontal members 
to which is fastened the sheet metal 
on which advertisements are pasted 
or painted; any medallions placed on 
the advertising surface; a walk in 
front of the advertising surface, if 
not more than two (2) feet wide and 
constructed of two (2) inch plank. 

In the Fourth Building District, 
all billboards located above the roof 
of a building more than one story 
high and having masonry walls, shall 
be faced with metal. 

Section 1055. A vertical dimension 
of a billboard located on the ground 
and having a solid face, shall not ex¬ 
ceed fifteen (15) feet; nor shall the 
height above the ground exceed twen¬ 


ty 120) feet except where the ground 
beneath the billboard is below the 
sidewalk grade, in which case the 
billboard shall not be higher than 
twenty (20) feet above the sidewalk 
in front of the billboard. 

Billboards located on the ground 
shall have an open space of at least 
eighteen (18) inches between the 
lower edge thereof and the ground. 
This space may be occupied by lat¬ 
tice work, provided that the open 
spaces in said lattice are at least 
equal in width to the width of the 
members of which the lattice is con¬ 
structed. 

Section 1056. No billboard, other 
than an electric sign, shall, if located 
above the roof of a building, have an 
advertising surface whose vertical 
dimension exceeds twenty (20) feet, 
nor shall it be higher than twenty- 
five (25) feet above the roof. Electric 
signs located above the roof of a 
building shall not be higher than fifty 
(50) feet above said roof. 

The bents supporting the face of 
a billboard shall, if located above the 
roof of a building, be at least six 
(6) feet apart and the bottom of the 
face shall be at least five (5) feet 
above the roof. 

The advertising surface of such a 
billboard must be at least four (4) 
feet from any street or alley line. 

Section 1057. Billboards placed on 
walls or roofs of buildings shall be 
located so as not to interfere with 
the use of any fire escape or stand¬ 
pipe or obstruct necessary windows 
or interfere with egress from the 
building. 

No billboard placed against the 
walls of a building shall project into 
any street or alley a greater distance 
than is permitted for appendages on 
buildings. 

Section 1058. Any billboard which 
may be or become unsafe or defective, 
and any billboard which may be here¬ 
after erected, altered or reconstructed 
contrary to the requirements of this 
ordinance, shall be removed or made 
to conform to the terms and require¬ 
ments of this ordinance by the owner 
thereof or by the owner of the ground 
upon which the same is built, upon 
receipt of notice so to do from the 
Superintendent of Buildings. It shall 
be the duty of the Superintendent of 
Buildings to serve notice on any per¬ 
son maintaining any billboard not in 
conformity with the provisions of this 
ordinance, which said notice shall re¬ 
quire the immediate removal of such 
billboard or alteration thereof to con¬ 
form to the requirements of this 
ordinance. 

Section 1059. It shall be unlawful 
for any person to erect, construct or 
maintain any billboard facing upon 
the street line of any public street 
in any block in which more than two- 
thirds (2/3) of all the buildings in 
said block and facing upon said street 
line are occupied exclusively for res¬ 
idential purposes, without first ob¬ 
taining the written consent of the 
owners of a majority of the frontage 
of said street line within a distance 
of two hundred (200) feet of such 
billboards, and filing said written con¬ 
sent with the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings: Provided, however, if such 
buildings used exclusively for resi¬ 
dential purposes are less than three 
in number, or are more than two hun¬ 
dred (200) feet distant from such bill- 





118 


The Building Code 


board, then it shall not be necessary 
to obtain such written consent. 

Section 1096. Any person who shall 
violate or fail to comply with any 
of the provisions of this ordinance 
or of any lawful order or require¬ 
ment of the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings made in accordance with the 
provisions hereof, shall be deemed 
guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon 
conviction thereof, shall be punished 
by a fine in any sum not exceeding 
One Hundred ($100) Dollars, or by 
imprisonment in the city jail for a 
term not exceeding thirty (30) days, 
or by both such fine and imprison¬ 
ment, and each day that any person 
shall continue to violate or fail to 
comply with any of the provisions 


of this ordinance or of such order or 
requirement shall be considered a 
separate offense. 

Section 1097. In addition to the 
penalties provided in the preceding 
section for violations of this ordi¬ 
nance, any building or structure, or 
part thereof erected, altered, repaired, 
removed, arranged, equipped, used or 
occupied in violation of any of the 
provisions of this ordinance, shall be 
deemed and is hereby declared to be 
a nuisance and such nuisance may 
be abated in the maner provided by 
law. 

Section 1098. All ordinances or 
parts thereof in conflict with the 
provisions of this ordinance are re¬ 
pealed. 











The Building Code 


APPENDIX 






120 


The Building Code 


If you are interested in improvement 
work to be undertaken by the City, 
County, School Board, Park Commis¬ 
sion, State Highway Commission, Fed¬ 
eral government, Army and Navy, fort, 
yard or dock improvements, Forest Re¬ 
serve, Treasury and Lighthouse depart¬ 
ment, various counties and municipali¬ 
ties throughout Washington, Oregon, 
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you want in the 


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Keep your finger on the pulse of pro¬ 
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throughout the Northwest by reading 
the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. 















The Building Code 


121 


RULINGS OF 

SUPERINTENDENT of BUILDINGS 
AND BOARD OF APPEALS. 


Ruling* No. 1 (Sixpt. of Building's.) 

—In fireprool buildings not over 
three stories high, designed for fu 
lure stories and in which the ceiling 
of the top story is the fireproof slab 
for the next future story, a tempo¬ 
rary roof of wood sheathing on wood 
forms is permitted, provided all 
shafts extending through the attic 
be enclosed with fireproof material 
and the attic be divided with double 
shiplap partitions as elsewhere pro¬ 
vided for attics in non-fireproof 
buildings. 

Ruling No. 2 (Supt. of Buildings.) 

—Waterproof paper may be omitted 
in plastered mill buildings. 

Ruling No. 3 (Supt. of Buildings.) 

—Cleats, quarter-rounds or metal 
flashings are required around posts 
passing through floors; also along the 
top and down the ends of wood par¬ 
titions and at similar points where 
shrinkage will open up cracks 
through which fire could otherwise 
pass. 

Ruling No, 4 (Supt. of Bldgs.) —As 

an alternate to that construction re¬ 
quired by the preceding paragraph 
and by Section 240 for the roofs and 
top story ceilings the following con¬ 
struction may be used: The ceiling 
of the top floor may be constructed 
of joists not less than 6" thick, gir¬ 
ders not less than 8" thick and solid 
flooring of matched planks not less 
than 2%" thick or of solid 2x4 con¬ 
struction; in either case plastered on 
the under side. Over this ceiling a 
roof may be constructed supported 
upon furring not less than 2" in least 
dimension and covered with roof 
sheathing of matched planks not less 
than 1%" thick. The roofing must be 
tar and gravel or other approved in¬ 
combustible roofing, including ap¬ 
proved prepared roofings. All light, 
vent and other shafts extending up 
through this attic space must be sur¬ 
rounded with the same construction 
as the ceiling. Such attic spaces 
must be divided by double shiplap 
partitions into compartments as re¬ 
quired elsewhere in the ordinance for 
attic divisions. 

Ruling No. 5 (Supt. of Bldgs.)— 

Brick veneer on frame walls must 
be anchored every seventh course or 
less with galvanized crimped metal 
or wire ties spaces not over 24" cen¬ 
ters. Spikes are not approved as 
ties. 

Ruling No. 6 (Supt. of Buildings.) 

—Bolts or screws used to fasten fire 
escapes either to frame or masonry 
walls must be galvanized or painted 
before installation. 

Ruling No. 7 (Board of Appeals.) 

—At a session cf the Board of Ap¬ 
peals held October 14, 1913, it was 
resolved that Section 866 of the 
Building Code should be construed as 
meaning wood lath and plaster with 
sufficient firestops. 

Ruling No. 8 (Supt. of Bldgs.)— 

The following roofing specifications 
are hereby approved under the au¬ 
thority invested in the Superintend¬ 
ent of Buildings by Sections 240 and 


361 of the Building Code as the mini¬ 
mum that may be used on any build¬ 
ing required by ordinance to be a 
nreproof mill or ordinary masonry 
construction: 

Specification No. 1— 

(a) A dry sheet. 

(b) 4 plys of 14-lb. felt laid shingle 
fashion and mopped solidly to¬ 
gether so that in no place shall 
layers of felt be in contact. 

(c) A coaling of hot pitch spread 
over the entire surface into 
which shall be imbedded at 
least 400 lbs. of roofing gravel 
per square. 

Specification No. 2— 

(a) A 2-ply prepared asbestos roof¬ 
ing weighing not less than 40 
lbs. per square. 

(b) 2 plys of 14-lb. asbesto's felt 
mopped solidly to the 2-ply 
roofing and to each other, so 
that in no place will layers of 
felt be in contact. 

(c) A coating of roofing pitch 
mopped over the entire surface. 

Specification No. 3— 

(a) A dry sheet. 

(b) 3 plys of 14-lb. felt laid shin 
gle fashion and mopped solidly 
so that in no place will the 
felts bo in contact. 

(c) A coating of roofing pitch and 
a 3-lb. prepared roofing weigh¬ 
ing not less than 50 lbs. per 
square. This shall be imbedd¬ 
ed in the hot pitch. 

Materials: The dry sheet shall bo 
of good quality, rosin^sized 
sheathing, weighing not less 
than 5 lbs. per square. The 
roofing felts, whether made of 
asbestos or rags, shall be of 
good quality and weigh not 
less than 14 lbs. per square. 
The roofing pitch shall be of 
good quality. The gravel shall 
be washed clean and vary in 
size from y s " to in diam¬ 
eter. 

Nothing in this ruling shall be con¬ 
strued to prevent the use of other 
roofing construction allowed by the 
Building Code, 


MISCELLANEOUS ORDINANCE RE¬ 
LATING TO BUILDING OPERA¬ 
TIONS, NUMBER OF BUILD¬ 
INGS ORDINANCE NO. 4635, AS 
AMENDED. 

ORDINANCE NO. 4635 

Section 3. The owner or occupant 
of any building or premises fronting 
upon any way, avenue, street, drive, 
place or square shall, upon receiving 
three (3) days’ notice from the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings, place a 
correct number of such building or 
premises upon or over the doorway 
or entrance of any such building or 
premises which does not conform to 
the provisions of this ordinance the 
owner or occupant thereof shall 
forthwith remove and correct such 
number. 

It shall be the duty of the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings to give the 
notice herein required whenever any 
building or premises within the city 
shall be found which is not numbered 
in accordance with the provisions of 
this ordinance. 









122 


The Building Code 


SIZE OP ROOMS, OTHER THAN 
SLEEPING- ROOMS, ORDINANCE 
NO. 15957, SECTION 43. 

Ordinance 15957, Sec. 43. It shall 
be unlawful for any person to use or 
permit the use of any room for the 
purposes hereinafter designated, un¬ 
less such room shall contain the 
amount of cubic feet of air space and 
of square feet of floor space for each 
person occupying said room: School 
room, for adults, 350 cubic feet and 
20 square feet; for children, 200 cubic 
feet and 15 square feet; hospitals, 
adults, 1,000 cubic feet and 75 square 
feet; children, 600 cubic feet and 50 
square feet; offices, workshops and 
factories, day workers, 300 cubic feet 
and 25 square feet; night workers, 
480 cubic feet and 40 square feet: 
living apartments or dwelling houses, 
600 cubic feet, outside of closets and 
bath rooms, for each individual oc¬ 
cupying the apartment or dwelling. 


PLANS TO BE APPROVED BY THE 

DEPARTMENT BEFORE BUILD¬ 
ING PERMITS ISSUED, ORDIN¬ 
ANCE NO. 37715. 

Section 1. That before any permit 
shall be issued for the construction, 
alteration or repair of any building 
in the City of Seattle application 
shall be made in writing on forms 
provided for that purpose to the Su¬ 
perintendent of Buildings of the City 
of Seattle, which application shall be 
signed by the owner or lessee of the 
premises, or by an architect or other 
person authorized to represent the 
owner or lessee. With every such 
application for a permit there shall 
be filed in duplicate such blue printed, 
or other printed drawing or print, 
or typewritten specifications as will 
fully and definitely describe the ex¬ 
tent and nature of the work for which 
a permit is desired. An application 
accompanied by drawings which are 
in the judgment of the Superintend¬ 
ent of Buildings incomplete, indefi¬ 
nite unintelligible or for work not in 
compliance with the provisions of any 
ordinance of the City of Seattle with 
regard to the construction, alteration 
or repairs of buildings shall be re¬ 
jected. As soon as said plans have 
been submitted to the building de¬ 
partment of the city said department 
shall examine the same and ascertain 
whether the construction, alteration 
or repairs provided in said plans com¬ 
ply with the various ordinances of 
the City of Seattle relating to such 
construction, alteration or repairs. 
The building department shall, after 
said plans are submitted to it, forth¬ 
with notify the Department of Health 
and Sanitation of the city, the Fire 
Marshal of the city and the Street 
and Sewer Department of the city, 
that said plans have been submitted 
to the Building Department by the 
contractor or owner. It shall be the 
duty cf the Department of Health 
and Sanitation, the Fire Marshal and 
the Street and Sewer Department to 
forthwith examine said plans and im¬ 
mediately indicate to the Building 
Department any changes which it is 
necessary to make upon said plans 
in order to comply with any ordi¬ 
nance of the City of Seattle relating 
to the alteration, construction or re¬ 
pairs of buildings. It shall be the 
duty of the Building Department if 
any changes are necessary in order 


to make said plans comply with any 
ordinances of the City of Seattle to 
indicate such changes upon said plans 
and when such changes are made, or 
if no changes are necessary upon the 
original plan, it shall thereupon be 
the duty of the Building Department 
to issue a permit to the owner, archi¬ 
tect or contractor authorizing the 
construction, alteration or repair pro¬ 
vided for in said plans. 


LOCATION WHERE UNDERTAX¬ 
ING ESTABLISHMENTS ARE 

PERMITTED, ORDINANCE NO. 

38519 (AS AMENDED). 

ORDINANCE NO. 38519. 

Section 1. It shall be lawful to 
carry on the business of undertaker, 
to construct, maintain, establish and 
operate undertaking establishments, 
morgues, public, community or asso¬ 
ciation mausoleums and crematories 
for the disposition of the bodies of 
the dead at any place or location 
within the districts bounded and de¬ 
scribed as follows: 

First: Beginning at a point 120 

feet easterly from the intersection 
of the center line of King Street with 
the center line of Rainier Avenue; 
thence northwesterly parallel with 
the easterly marginal line of Rainier 
Avenue and 120 feet distant there¬ 
from to the center line of Jackson 
Street; thence north parallel with the 
easterly marginal line of Fourteenth 
Avenue and distant 120 feet there¬ 
from to the center line of Jefferson 
Street to a point 120 feet east of the 
easterly marginal line of Twelfth 
avenue; thence north along a line 
parallel to and distant 120 feet east 
of the easterly marginal line of 
Twelfth Avenue to a point 120 feet 
north of the northerly marginal line 
of East Pike Street; thence continu¬ 
ing northerly a distance of 120 feet 
easterly from the easterly marginal 
line of Twelfth Avenue to the center 
line of East Howell Street; thence 
west along the center line of East 
Howell Street to the center inle of 
Eleventh Avenue; thence north along 
the center line of Eleventh Avenue to 
Denny Way; thence west and west- 
ery along the center line of Denny 
Way to a point 120 feet west of the 
westerly marginal line of Broadway; 
thence south parallel to the westerly 
marginal line of Broadway and dis¬ 
tant 120 feet therefrom to a point 120 
feet north of the northerly marginal 
hne of Pine Street; and thence west 
parallel to the northerly marginal 
line of Pine Street and distant 120 
feet therefrom to a point 120 feet 
west of the westerly marginal line of 
Bellevue Avenue; thence north par¬ 
allel to the westerly marginal line 
of Bellevue Avenue and distant 120 
feet therefrom to the center line of 
Denny Way; thence west and west¬ 
erly along the center ine of Denny 
Way to the center line of Eastlake 
Avenue; thence north along the cen¬ 
ter line of Eastlake Avenue to Valley 
Street; thence west along the center 
line of Valley Street to the center 
line of Westlake Avenue; thence 
south along the center line of West- 
lake Avenue to Denny Way; thence 
west along the center line of Denny 
Way to the short of Elliott Bay; 

1 hence southeasterly along the shore 
of Elliott Bay to the center line of 
King Street extended westerly. 








The Building Code 


123 


thence east along the center ilne of 
King Street to the pace of beginning, 
excepting from said district the ter¬ 
ritory bounded and described as fol¬ 
lows: beginning at a point 240 feet 
west from the westerly marginal line 
of Broadway and 150 feet south of 
the southerly marginal line of Pike 
Street; thence west parallel to Pike 
Street a distance of 150 feet there¬ 
from to the center line of Hubbell 
Way; thence southerly along the cen¬ 
ter line of Hubbell Way to the center 
line of Union Street; thence south 
parallel to the easterly marginal line 
of Eighth Avenue; thence south par¬ 
allel to the easterly marginal line of 
Eighth Avenue and distant 120 feet 
therefrom to a point 120 feet north 
of Yesler Way; thence easterly par¬ 
allel to the northerly margin of Yes¬ 
ler Way and distant 120 feet there¬ 
from to a point 120 feet west of the 
westerly marginal line of Broadway; 
thence northerly, parallel to the west¬ 
erly marginal line of Broadway and 
distant 120 leet therefrom to the 
southerly marginal line of Terrace 
Street; thence easterly along the 
southerly marginal line of Terrace 
Street to the easterly marginal line 
of Broadway; thence northerly along 
the easterly marginal line of Broad¬ 
way to a point 150 feet south of the 
southerly marginal line of Pike 
street; thence westerly parallel to 
end 150 feet south of the southerly 
marginal line of Pike Street to the 
place of beginning. 

Fourth: On Fourteenth Avenue 

Northeast, and for a distance of 120 
feet from the marginal lines thereof, 
from the center line of East Thir¬ 
tieth Street to the center line of East 
Forty-seventh Street. 

Fifth: On Rainier Avenue, and for 
a distance of 120 feet from the mar- 
gina lines thereof. 

Sixth’ On California Avenue, and 
for a distance of 120 feet from the 
marginal lines thereof, from the cen¬ 
ter line of West Walker Street to the 
center ine of West Dawson Street. 

Seventh: On West Andover Street, 
and for a distance of 120 feet from 
the marginal lines thereof, from the 
center line of Twenty-sixth Avenue 
Southwest to the center line of Twen¬ 
ty-eighth Avenue Southwest. 

Eighth: Duwamish Avenue, and 

for a distance of 120 feet from the 
marginal lines thereof, from the cen¬ 
ter line of Howard Street to the cen¬ 
ter line of Horton Street. 

Ninth: Ballard Avenue, and for a 
distance of 120 feet from the mar¬ 
ginal lines thereof, from the center 
line of Market Street to the center 
line of West Forty-seventh Street. 

Tenth: W'est Fifty-sixth Street, 

and for a distance of 120 feet from 
the marginal lines thereof, from the 
center line of Twenty-fourth Avenue 
Northwest to the center ilne of Twen¬ 
ty-second Avenue Northwest. 

Eeventh: Market Street, and for a 
distance of 120 feet from the mar¬ 
ginal lines thereof, from the center 
line of Twenty-fourth Avenue North¬ 
west to the center line of Fourteenth 
Avenue Northwest. 

Twelfth: West Forty-seventh Street 
and for a distance of 120 feet from 
the marginal lines thereof, from the 
center line of Seventeenth Avenue 


Northwest to the center line of Four¬ 
teenth Avenue Northwest. 

Thirteenth. Fremont Avenue, and 
for a distance of 120 feet from the 
marginal lines thereof, from the cen¬ 
ter line of Kilbourne Street to the 
Center line of Etruria Street, and on 
Fremont Avenue, and for a distance 
of 162 feet from the marginal lines 
thereof, from the center line of Etru¬ 
ria Street to the center line of Flor- 
entia Street. 

Fourteenth- On West Kilbourne 
Street, and for a distance of 120 feet 
from the marginal lines thereof, from 
the center line of Fremont Avenue 
to the center line of Greenwood Ave¬ 
nue. 

Fifteenth: That tract of land 

known as the King County Poor 
Farm, bounded by Corson Street, 
Myrtle Street and Monroe Street pro¬ 
duced, and the Duwamish River, pro¬ 
vided, that no undertaking estabish- 
ment, morgue, mausoleum or crema¬ 
tory shall be located less than three 
hundred (300) feet west of Corson 
Street. 

Seventeenth: Twenty-second Ave¬ 
nue South, and for a distance of 120 
feet from the marginal lines thereof, 
from Jackson Street to Main Street. 


ELEVATORS MUST BE 

INSPECTED 

ORDINANCE NO. 44903 

Section 1 . It shall be unlawful for 
the owner of any freight or passen¬ 
ger elevator in the City of Seattle to 
maintain or operate the same in any 
building, structure or public place in 
such city unless such elevator and all 
equipment and apparatus used or re¬ 
quired in connection therewith are 
regularly inspected as herein pro¬ 
vided. 

Section 2. It shall be unlawful for 
the owner of any freight or passen¬ 
ger elevator to maintain or operate 
the same unless such elevator is in¬ 
spected on or before the first day of 
January of each and every year, and 
quarterly thereafter, by a competent 
inspector, who may be a regularly 
authorized inspector of a liability in¬ 
surance company in good standing in 
the State of Washington, or any em¬ 
ploye or representative of some re¬ 
sponsible firm in the business of ele¬ 
vator construction and maintenance 
satisfactory to the Superintendent of 
Buildings of the City of Seattle. All 
cost and expense of such inspection 
shall be borne and paid by the owner 
of such elevator. 

Section 3. Immediately after any 
inspection has been made, as required 
by this ordinance, the owner, man¬ 
ager or agent of the building in 
which such elevator is located, shall 
file or transmit for filing in the office 
of the Superintendent of Buildings, 
on forms to be furnished by said su¬ 
perintendent, a full, true and correct 
report of such inspection, giving the 
location, description of elevator, date 
of inspection, by whom made, and the 
result thereof. If, from the report 
of such inspection, the Superinten¬ 
dent of Buildings has reason to be¬ 
lieve that such inspection is inade¬ 
quate or improperly made, he is au¬ 
thorized and empowered to require 
further and additional inspection to 
be made of any such elevator and to 
order the operation and use thereof 






124 


The Building Code 


discontinued until such additional in¬ 
spection is made. 

Section. 4. Any person violating or 
failing to comply with the provisions 
and requirements of this ordinance 
shall be deemed guilty of a misde¬ 
meanor, and on conviction thereof 
shall be lined in any sum not exceed¬ 
ing the sum of One Hundred Dollars 
($100.00), or imprisoned in the city 
jail for a term not exceeding thirty 
(30) days, or may be both fined and 
imprisoned. 


WEIGHT Or VARIOUS 
MATERIALS AND STRUCTURAL 
FARTS 

As Used by the Seattle Building 
Department in Computing Loads. 

Lbs. Per 


cu. ft. 

Brick, Pressed . 150 

Brick, Pressed, laid, thin joints. 150 

Brick, Common . 125 

Brick, Common, laid %" joints 120 
Brick, soft, laid %" joints. ... 100 
Cinders, dry, bituminous, in 

bulk. 45 

Coal, bituminous, loose. 49 

Concrete— 

Cinder, structural . 110 

Cinder, fireproofing. 85 

Stone or gravel. 144 

Slag (blast furnace). 130 

Slag (garbage 

incinerator) .95 to 105 

Cast iron . 450 

Earth— 


Common loam, dry and loose 76 
Clay and gravel, dry & loose 100 
Common earth, dry & packed 100 


Wet mud . 120 

Glass . 157 

Grain (at 60 lbs. per bushel).. 48 

Granite. . 170 

Gravel, dry . 120 

Granite Masonry, dressed..... 165 

Granite Masonry, rubble. 155 

Ice . 58.7 

Limestone Masonry, dressed... 162 

Marble Masonry, dressed. 170 

Mortar, hard, cement. 135 

Mortar, hard, lime. 105 


Lbs. Per 
sq. ft. 


2"x4" studs, wood lath, %" 

plaster, both sides . 16 

2"x4" studs, plaster board, 

%" plaster, both sides. 16 

Channel studs, metal lath, 
cement plaster, solid 2" thick 20 


Plaster on plaster block (one 

side) . 

2" Terra Cotta Tile. 

g// ** 44 44 

«« •« 
r h « 44 «< 

o •••**••* 

0 #/ a n << 

g // *< «« 44 

j 2" 44 4t 4i 

Plaster on T. C. partitions 

(one side) . 

2" Plaster Blocks . 

2 V" " 

3" 

3 M;" 

4" 

5" 

6" 

8 " 


Ceilings— 

Wood, lath and plaster. 

Metal lath and plaster sus¬ 
pended . 


5 

13 

16 

18 

20 

25 

30 

45 

5 

7 

8.5 

9.5 
10.5 
12 
15 
18 
22 


8 

10 


Roofings— 

Wood shingles. 3 

Slate 3-16". 7 

Slate %" . 10 

Tile and clay shingles..11 to 14 

Roman tile, clay. 12 

Spanish tile, clay. 19 

Ludowici tile, Spanish. 10 

Tile roof laid in mortar, * 

add . 10 

Copper (if no weight is spec¬ 
ified) . m 

Tin. 1 

Corrugated iron. 2 

Tar and gravel. 6 

Prepared composition . 1 

Lbs. Per 
cu. ft. 

Sand, dry. 100 

Sand, wet . 120 

Lbs. Per 
sq. ft. 


Skylights, metal covered, wire 
glass . 5 

Lbs. Per 
cu. ft. 

Steel . 490 

Terra Ootto, large blocks. 70 

Terra Cotta, large blocks. 70 

Terra Cotta, filled with brick¬ 
work . 120 

Terra Cotta, Dennison inter¬ 
lock tile, laid. 65 

Timber— 

Fir, dry . 32 

Fir, wet . 44 

Oak .. . 46 

Water, fresh at 60 deg. Falir... 62^ 

Water, sea. 64 








































































The Building Code 


MEMORANDUM 
































126 


The Building Code 










The Building Code 


127 


Index to Building Code 

1923-1924 


Section 


Abbreviations—Concrete design 42S 
A&dition to schools. 885 

Adjoining* Buildings—Openings 

into . 505 

Ag'gregate for Concrete— 

Sand . 402 

Gravel ..!!!!.'] 403 

Air Space— 

Around timber set in walls. . 377 

Per individual . 701 

Aisles to b© clear of obstruction 315 
Alcove Rooms 703 

Alley—Definition of . 132 

Alterations— 

Frame buildings . 1028 

General . 1025 

Mill buildings . Iu26 

Necessitated by regrading. . . . 1029 
Ordinary masonry building.. 1027 
Unlawful without permit.... 108 

Amusement Halls . 822-831 

Anoh ors—Wall . .. 377 

Apartment— 

Bath tub required in . 708 

Definition of . 132 

Number of rooms required in 701 
Shower bath required in.... 70G 

Size of rooms . 701 

Water closet required in .... 706 

Apartment House— 

Courts required . 714 

Definition of . 132 

Appeal from Superintendent of 

of Buildings . 128 

Application for permit .... 10S.110 
Approved—Definition of .:.... 422 

Area— 

Definition of . 132 

Maximum floor area permitt¬ 
ed .. 501, 502, 503 

Areaway—Definition of . 132 

Asbestos Board shelves in .... 

dressing rooms . 851 


Section 

Basement Sprinklers Required 

. 513 

Basement Walls to be damp-. .. 


proof . 704 

Bath Tub required for each 

apartment . 706 

Bay Windows . 1003 

Bearing Plates . 375 

Bed Closets— 

Vents . 709 

Vent ducts . 710 

Belt Course Projection—. 1005 

Billboard— 

Advertising surface, defini¬ 
tion of . 132 

Against wall . 1053 

Bonds for .. 1051 

Billboard, definition of. 132 

Dimensions of . 1055 

May be in any district. 1053 

Metal faced . 1053 

On roofs . 1054-105G 

Open space under. 1055 

On walls and roofs. 1057 

Residence districts . 1059 

Unsafe . 1058 

Wind pressure on . 1053 

Bill Poster— 

Definition of . 132 

License . 1050 

To have name on bill board.. 1052 

Board of Appeals—. 128 

Board of Public Works, Tem¬ 
porary buildings . 1016 

Boilers and Furnaces, Forbidden 

in theatres . 859 

Boiler Room— 

Construction of . 521 

Class of fire door required... 517 
In school buildings . 885 

Bond— 

In reinforced concrete . 429 

Of brick . 343 

Of face brick . 347 

On bill boards . 1051 


Asbestos— 

Cloth . 881 

Curtains in amusement halls. 826 

Curtains in theatres . 849 

Ashlar Pacing—Bond of. 346 

Assembly Hall— 

Definition of . 801 

In schools . 889 

Public . 804-821 

Attic Divisions—. 504 

Attic not to have shafts or.... 

ducts terminate therein... 504 

Automatic Door—Definition of 132 

Automatic Fire Door. 515 

Automatic Sprinklers— 

Ir. buildings five stories high 514 

In basements . 513 

In theatres . 858 

In waterfront buildings .... 953 

Specfications for . 510 

Automatic Window—Definition. 

of . 132 

Balcony— 

Definition of . 132 

Exterior . 1004 

Interior . 1002 


Booths— 

Picture Machine.. 871, 878, 881, 882 

Breechings, of Masonry—. . 534, 539 


Brick— 

Bond of . 343 

Not to be laid in freezing 

weather . 344 

Required quality of . 338 

Required strength of . 341 

To be wet before laying. 344 

To have joints filled. 344 

Brick Masonry—Stresses in.... 340 

Brick Partitions— 352 

Brick Piers— 

Minium dimensions of. 342 

Stresses in . 342 

Brick Walls—Thickness of.... 


Bridging—To be inspected.... 520 

Building— 

Connecting of . 505 

Definition of . 132 

Demolition of . 119 

Distance from lot line . 507 

Fireproof, Construction of... 































































































128 


The Building Code 


INDEX —Continued 


Section 

Frame, Construction of.... 270-281 
Height of, how measured. . . . 230 

Mill, Construction of.236-249 

Not in accordance with Code 119 
Of higher class than required 211 
Ordinary masonry, Construc¬ 
tion of.X. 255, 266 

Percentage of lot area which 

may be covered. 714 

Safety of from collapse .... 118 

Seperation between . 507 

Unsafe . 118 

Vacation of . 119 

Waterfront, Definition of.... 132 

Waterfront . 950-954 

Building Code— 

Enforcement of . 105 

Ordinance designating . 101 

Scope of . 102 


Building Districts—.201-205 

Buttresses — . 368 


Candy Kettles —Construction of 549 


Cast Iron— 

Columns . 456, 460 

Specifications for . 454 

Stresses in . 455 

Catch Basins for stables. ..... 921 

Cattle Yards—. 920 

Cellar, Sleeping rooms in. 704 

Cement- 

Mortar . 339 

Specifications for.. 401 

Tests . 401 

Change of Plans, How ap¬ 
proved . 112 

Change of Use or Occupancy. . . 116 

Chases in walls . 364 

Chimney— 

Blocks . 527, 529 

Concrete blocks . 529 

Corbelling of . 533 

Cupola . 540 

Extensions of metal . 535 

Fire brick lining. 528 

Height above roof. 535 

In houseboats. 538 

In party walls . 542 

In waterfront buildings .... 538 

Inspection of . 520 

Inclined or horizontal. 534 

Metal . 535, 539 

Racking over . 534 

Settlement of to be provided 

for . 531 

Size of flue . 530 

Support for . 531 

Thickness cf . 527 

Thimbles in . 533 

Wind pressure on. 535 

Wood framing to be kept 

clear . 532 

Churches—. 802, 803 

Chutes—Enclosure of . 636 

Cinder Concrete .. 403 

Classes of Buildings . 210 

Classrooms in basements . 886 

Clay Tilde between concrete 

joists . 437 


Section 

Clearance— 

Around timber set in walls.. 377 


Under joists . 334 

Clubs— 

Courts required . 714 

Definition of . 132 


Coffee Boasters, Vents from.. 550 


Columns— 

Cast iron . 456 

Concrete .439-442, 444 

Concrete, with spiral rein¬ 
forcing . 441 

Steel . 443, 456 

Wood . 386 

Column Capital, Definition of. . 422 

Column Strip, Definition of.... 422 

Compression Reinforcement for 

Concrete . 434 

Computations —May be required 421 


Concrete- 

Assumptions for design. 424 

Below required strength. 427 

Blocks . 383 

Block chimneys . 529 

Chimney blocks . 527 

Column design .439-442, 444 

Columns with spiral reforc¬ 
ing . 441 

Consistency of . 412 

Depositing of . 414 

Design of footings. 438 

Design specifications. 432 

Flat slab . 449 

Footing design. 438 

Forms for. 406, 418 

Gravel for. 403 

Inspection . 406, 450 

Joints in. 408, 414 

Joists . 437 

Mixing . 409, 412 

Modulus of elasticity of. 424 

Moment coefficients . 431 

Notation . 428 

New methods of construction 447 

Piles. 322, 324 

Placing under water. 415 

Placing in freezing tempera¬ 
ture . 417 

Plans, must be complete. 421 

Proportioning . 409 

Reinforced curtain and filler 

wells . 446 

Reinforced walls. 445 

Reinforcement, specifications 

and tests . 405 

Reinforcement, stresses per¬ 
mitted in . 429 

Reinforcement, to be carried 

over supports . 432 

Reinforcement, to be pro¬ 
tected . 419 

Reinforcement, to be well 
placed and secured........ 407 

Reinforcement, clearance 

around . 420, 435 

Reinforcement, maximum 

spacing of. 432 

Re-mixing of prohibited. 413 

Sand for. 402 

Slab, minimum thickness. . . . 437 

Span length for beams and 
slabs . 4S0 


SEATTLE BLUE PRINT CO. 

“PROMPTNESS AND EFFICIENCY” 

413-15 Hinckley Bldg., Cor. Second and Columbia St. 

BEN C. GRAHAM, Mgr. MA. in 2489 













































































































The Building Code 


129 


INDEX —Continued 


Section-i 


Specifications for design. 430 

Spouting . 414 

Stresses permitted in. 429 

Stresses reduced when not 

under supervision. 427 

Supervision to be paid for by- 

owner . 450 

Supervisor . 450, 452 

Symbols . 428 

Tamping of. 414 

Tee beam . 432 

Test cylinders . 426 

Test of structure . 451 

Two way reinforcement .... 432 

Ultimate compressive 

strength of. 427 

Walls . 372 

Weight of . 423 

Wetting of after pouring.... 415 

Construction— 

Joints . 408 

Safety measures. 

.1017-1019, 1021-1023 

Coping* to be laid in cement 

mortar . 368 

Corbels— 

Of brick—how constructed.. 377 
On chimneys . 533 

Corner Lot—Width of. 714 

Cornice Projection . 1005 

Corrections of Applications, 

Flans and Specifications. . Ill 

Corridors .634-635 

Cost—On application . 110 

Court— 

Area required . 714 

Definition of . 132 

Exterior, definition of. 132 

Height of, how measured.... 713 

Interior, definition of. 132 

Obstructions in . 71S 

Width of required . 713 

When requiring plastering... 276 

Covered Wagon. 1014 

Cross Aisles . 815 

Cupolas . 540 

Damp Proofing of basement 

walls. 704 

Dead Load—Definition of. 302 

Definitions . 132 

Demolition— 

Of buildings . 119 

Unlawful without permit.... 106 

Detention—Places of, definition 

of . 132 

Districts—Building .201-205 

Division— 

Of attics . 504 

Of building, definition of.... 132 


Division Wall —(See also Fire 
Walls) 

Class of fire door required. . 517 


Construction of . 506 

Definition of . 132 

Joists entering . 377 

Required . 501, 503 

Thickness of. 353 

Dock— 

(See Waterfront buildings).. 951 

Draft curtains under. 950 

Door— 


(See “Self Closing,” “Auto¬ 
matic,” and “Fire Doors”). . 132 

To toilet rooms to be self¬ 


closing . 707 

Dormer Windows —. 1006 

Downspouts — . 1012 


Section 


Dressing Rooms— 

In amusement halls. 827 

In theatres . 851 

Dropped Panel —Definition of.. 422 

Dry Kiln— . 523 

Dry Rooms — . 523 

Ducts— 

Bed-closet . 709 

Firestooping around . 546 

Gas vent . 711 

Hot air . 546 

Toilet room. 710 

From hoods over ranges. 550 

Not to terminate in attic.... 50f 
Protection of wood work from 546 

Dwelling— Definition of. 132 

Eccentric Loading — . 308 

Effective Area of Concrete— 

Definition of. 422 

Effective Area of Reinforce¬ 
ment —Definition of.. 422 

Egress— General provisions.... 601 

Electric Sign— 

Definition of . 132 

(See bill board) 


Elevators— 

Alterations to . 680 

Baggage crates on forbidden 671 

Blanket provisions . 660 

Bumpers . 682 

Cables ..-...-,,672, 674 


Clearance required . 669 

Combined freight and pass¬ 
enger . 690 

Electric automatic . 670 

Enclosures: 

Above first story in fire 

proof building. 662 

Above first story in non- 

fireproof buildings. 663 

Below first story. 661 

Fire doors, class of. 517 

Freight elevators.. 664, 665 

Openings in. 666, 668 

Reinforced concrete. 445 

Thickness cf... 353- 

Tile, thickness of. 382 

Facilities for inspection and 

tests . 689 

Factor of safety to be doubled 675 
Freight, openings on cage... 671 

Freight, passengers on. 690 

Grating, over shaft . 677 

Guide rails . 678 

Grilles . 670 

Hand rope operating. 683 

Head room top of shaft.... 676 

Hydraulic . 680 

In apartment houses. 673 

In dwellings need not apply. . 660 

In hospitals . 673, 912 

Inspection must be made 

promptly . 687 

Live load on. 673 

Machinery on top of shaft.. . . 677 

Operators, age of. 692 

Overspeed stops. 681 

Passengers, number of, 

finished installation. 673 

Pent house, over. 689 

Pits, depth of. 679 

Safety devices .680-681 

Safety devices on old ele¬ 
vators . 680 

Inspection of (See Appendix, 

Ordt 44903). 

Service . 690 

Sheave supports . 675 

Size, proportion to engine.... 673 









































































































136 


The Building Code 


INDEX —Continued 


Section 


Superintendent must inspect 

within six hours. 687 

Test after alteration. 685 

Test, annual . 686 

Test upon installation . 681 

Test, how made. 688 

Unsafe, to be condemned.... 687 
Use cf, during construction. . 691 

Use of, when completed. 690 

Worm gear machines . 680 

Enclosures— 

For stairways . 625, 633 

Thickness of stairway . 353 

Thickness of elevator . 353 

Engineer—Definition of . 422 

Entrances are also Exits—.... 801 

Established Grade—Definition 

of. 132 

Exaination of Concrete Super¬ 
visor .. 450 

Excavations Adjacent to Other 

buildings or Property. 329 

Exit— 

Definition of . 801 

Diagram of on programes. ... 923 

From stables . 923 

Exit Eights— 

Public assembly halls. 819 

School auditoriums . 891 

Theatres . 856 

Exterior Court—Definition of. . 132 

Pace Brick— 

Bond of . 343 

On concrete wall to be sup¬ 
ported at each floor. 453 

When to be considered as part 

of wall thickness. 347 

Paotory— 

Definition of . 132 

Height cf . 715 

Light and ventilation re¬ 
quired . 713 

Sprinklered if five stories 

high . 514 

Family—Definition of . 132 

Fences— . 1013 

Filler Walls—. 353 

Film— 

Cases for in theatres. 875 

Elimination room . 942 

Film Exchange— 

Booth in . 944 

Cleaning room . 945 

Examination room . 942 

Exterior openings to be fire¬ 
proof .. 940 

Shipping room . 943 

Vaults . 941 

Where prohibited . 940 

Final Inspection— 

Of assembly halls . 821 

Of moving picture theatres.. 880 

Of theatres . 864 

Fire Alarm in Theatres—. 861 

Fire Brick Lining for Chimneys 528 

Fire Damages—Repairs of. 1030 

Fire Doors— 

Amusement halls . 825 

Between buildings . 505 

Classes required for various 

uses . 517 

Class required on shafts and 

chutes . 636 

Construction of . 515 

Moving picture theatres. 866 

Partitions in theatres. 851 

Fire Drills in Theatres—. 8G2 

Fire Escape— 

Construction of .640-650 


Section 

Ladder with stand pipes .... 820 

On fireproof assembly halls. 810 

On places of refuge . 913 

When required . 602 

Lights . 651, 652 

Signs . 651, 652 

Fire Extinguishers— 

In moving picture theatres.. 879 
In theatres . 860 

Fire Extinguishing Equipment—. 

Inspection by Fire Marshal.. 117 

Fire Fighting Apparatus— 

In moving picture theatres.. 879 


In theatres . 360 

Maintenance of . 862 

Fire Marshall—Duties of.116-117 

Fireplace— 

Chimney to be kept clear of 

wood framing . 532 

Construction of . . .. 548 

To be inspected . 520 

Fireproof Buildings— 

Construction of .217-226, 232 

Height of . 715 

Stairways in . 

..602, 603, 605, 606, 608, 609, 615 
Temporary roof on (See ruling) 

Where required . 210 

Materials . 213, 214 

Fireproof Opening— 

Definition of . 132 

Required in film exchanges.. 910 
Fireproof Theatres—When re¬ 
quired .834-836 

Fire Stop— 

Around chimneys . 532 

Around ducts . 546 

To be inspected . 520 

Fire Walls—(See also Division 
Walls) 

Construction of . 506 

When required.. 501, 502, 503, 952 
In waterfront buildings .... 952 

Parapets . 374 

Fire Windows—Construction of 518 
Flat—(See Apartment) 

Flat Slab- 

Design . 449 

Definition of . 422 

Columns . 439 

Flat Building (See “Apartment 
House”) 

Floor— 

Area allowed . 501 

Undivided area of.501-503 

Floor Load— 

Required for various uses.. .. 304 

Signs .. .. 306 

Floor Openings, Enclosure of. . 636 

Flour Mills—Height of. 715 

Flue- 

Size of . 530 

Lining required . 527 

Footings— 

Design of concrete. 438 

Thickness of . 332 

Forms— 

Concrete . 406 

Concrete, when to be removed 418 

F oundation— 

Cement mortar required. 331 

Depth of . 327 

Excavations near . 328 

Loads . 315 

Masonry required . 331 

Masonry, to be carried above 

ground . 333 

Piles .318-321 

In wet soil . 326 

Reduction of load on. 305 




































































































The Building Code 


131 



Ehrlich - Harrison 


COMPANY 



HARD WOOD 


LUMBER 

" ' ■■■'■■ AND : 

FLOORING 


36 Hanford St. Seattle, Wash. 






















132 


The Building Code 


INDEX —Continued 


Section 


Shall not bear on underground 

utilities . 330 

Thickness of . 332 

Top soil must be removed 

under .. 314 

Walls, to extend into ground 


Walls, thickness of . 333 

Frame Buildings— 

Alterations and repairs. 1028 

Class of fire door required .. 517 

Construction of .270-281 

Distance apart . 507 

Distance from lot line. 507 

Stairways in .602, 604-609 

When requiring plaster. 276 

Where permitted . 210 

Framework—To be inspected.. 520 

Frost—Protection of foundation 

against . 335 

Furnace Boom— 

Construction . 521 

Class of fire door required.. 517 

Garage— 

Adjoining a residence. 507 

Class of fire door required... 517 

Definition of . 132 

Height of . 715 

In buildings used for other 

purposes ....935, 937 

In residence, for one car.. .. 931 

Percentage of lot covered by 930 

Size “A,” definition of. 132 

Size "A,” must be in fireproof, 
mill or ordinary masonry 

building . 934 

Size “B,” definition of. 132 

Size “B,” may be frame. 930 


Size “B,” in transit shed,ware- 
house, factory, workshop, 
store or office building. .932-933 
Sprinklered if five stories 


high . 514 

When permitted in schools, 

hospitals, etc. 936 

Gas Vents. 711 

Gauge—Definition of . 132 

Grade— 

Established, definition of.... 132 

Natural, definition of. 132 

Gradients at theatre entrances. 837 

Grease Vents . 550 

Gravel . 403 

Gutters . 1012 

Habitable Boom— 

Definition of . 132 

Required height of. 702 

Habitation, Place of — 

Definition of . 132 

(See “Place of Habitation' 

Halls —Stairway .634-635 

Handrails— 

On stairways . 619 

On stairs in theatres. 847 

Hard Plaster —Definition of.. . 132 


Section 

Headers of Timber • •.. 388 

Hearth Forms—To be removed. 548 
Heating Stove Smoke Pipes.... 545 

Heating Theatres . 859 

Height— 

Of buildings, how measured. . 230 

Of assembly halls above grade 810' 

Of schools above grade. 890 

Of school rooms . 887 

Of theatres above grade. 839 

Hollow Brick Walls.360, 373 

Hollow Terra Cotta Tile....378, 379 

Hoods Over Ranges. 550 

Hose Reels— 

In amusement halls . 831 

In theatres . 858 

Hospital— 

Construction of .910-911 

Definition of . 132 

Elevators required in . 912 

Fire escapes on . 913 

(See “Places of Refuge”) 

Hot Air Ducts— 

Construction of. 543 


Protection of woodwork from 547 
Hot Air Registers— 

Forbidden in floor of theatres 859 


Hotels— 

Courts required . 714 

Definition of . 132 

(See “Places of Habitation”) 

Houseboat—Definition of. 132 

Incombustible Materials.215-216 

Ideal Brick Walls . 360 

Inflammables— 

Storage of in theatres. 833 

Inspection— 

Authority for . 115 

Before lathing . 520 

Before pouring concrete. 406 

By Fire Marshal . 115 

Of equipment by Fire Mar¬ 
shal . 117 

Of theatres, semi-annual .... 862 

Of unsafe buildings . 120 

Inspector—Definition of. 132 

Interpretation of Code.• •. 125 

Interior Court—Definition of... 132 

Joints in Concrete.408, 414 

Joist Hangers . 388 

Jumbo Sprinklers— 

In basements . 513 

Specifications for . 511 

Baitance—Definition of . 422 

Baminated Floors . 389 

Bath—Specifications for . 520 

Bicense for Bill Poster- •. 1050 

Bife of Permit—Definition of.. 132 
Bight— 


Area of windows required... 705 
Courts required to provide. .713-714 


Gr. J. Kieburtz 


R. Rowntree 



Pacific States Construction Co. 


BUILDINGS 


519-520 Colman Building 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 


WATERWORKS 


BRIDGES 
















































































The Building Code 


133 


INDEX —Continued 


Section 

Natural required. 713 

Lighting— 

Of halls . 635 

Of moving picture theatres.. 877 
Of public assembly halls.... 819 

Of schools . 896 

Of theatres . 856 

Of steps in aisles . 815 

Lime- 

Lime and cement mortar .... 339 

Lime mortar . 339 

Lintels—Of wood . 376 

Live Load— 

Definition of . 303 

Fire escapes on theatres. 842 

Reduction . 305 

Required for various uses... 304 

Signs. 306 

Load— 

Dead, definition of . 302 

Live, definition of. 303 

Allowed on* soil . 315 

Live loads required for vari¬ 
ous uses . 304 

Reduction . 305 

Signs. 306 

Lot- 

Definition of . 132 

Corner, width of. 714 

Through, definition of . 132 

Lot Line— 

Definition of . 132 

Distance of building from. ... 507 

Maintenance— 

Of building and equipment.. 117 

Structural . 118 

Manure—Box for stables. 922 

Masonry—Definition of . 132 

Materials- 

Quality of .. 311 

Strength of . 312 

Weights of (See Appendix) 

Means of Egress— 

General provisions . 601 

Insufficient . 119 

For stables . 923 

Metal Cases for Pilm. 875 

Metal Chimneys— 

How constructed . .. 53 8 

When permitted . 538 

Metal Lath.— 

On corridors . 276 

On dressing rooms. 827 

On picture machine booths, 

exterior of . 873 

Theatres, outside of First 

District . 835 

Metal Smokestacks . 539 

Middle Strip—Definition of. . . . 422 

Mill Buildings— 

Alterations and repairs . 1026 

Construction of .236-249 

Stairways in.602, 604, 605-609 

Where permitted . 210 

Mirrors in Theatres . 840 

Modulus ef Elasticity—Of Con¬ 
crete . 424 

Moment Coefficients, for con¬ 
crete design . 431 

Mortar— 

For tile walls . 380 

Kinds of . 339 

Remixing of prohibited . 413 

Motion Picture Machine Booths— 

General requirements .871-882 

In film exchanges . 944 

Motion Picture Machines— 

Definition of . 865 

Motion Picture Theatre— 

Definition of . 865 

General requirements .865-882 


Section 


Motor Vehicle— Definition of... 132 

Nailed Joints— 

Stresses permitted in . 390 

Natural Grade— Definition of.. 132 

Negative Reinforcement— 

Definition of . 422 

New Materials . 313 

Non-Pireproof Buildings— 


Notice- 

Must not be concealed or 

damaged . 123 

Of inspection before lathing. 520 

Of repairs . 117 

Of unsafe or dangerous con¬ 
dition . 120 

To stop work . 124 

To vacate, must be obeyed... 122 

Vacating building . 119 

Vacating building or lot .... 116 

Nuisance .>. 1097 

Numbering of Buildings— 

(See Appendix Ord 4635) 

Occupied—Definition of . 132 

Offices—Light and ventillation 

required . 713 

Office Building— 

Courts required . 714 

Definition of . 132 

Open Lot—Definition of . 132 

Ordinary Masonry Buildings— 

Alterations and repairs...... 1027 

Construction of .255-266 

Stairways in .604-609 

Where permitted . 210 

Overload of Ploors. 306 

Owner—Definition of . 132 

Packing Material—Vaults for.. 523 

Panel—Definition of . 422 

Panel Length—Definition of... 422 

Panic Bolts . 842 

Parapet Walls .• •. 374 

Partitions—Temporary . 1001 

Partition Tile—Thickness of. . . 382 

Party Wall— 

Chimney in . 542 

Definition of . 132 

Penal Clause .• •. 1096 

Penalty for Violation . 1096 

Pent Blouse—. 

Construction of . . • •. 1007 

Definition of. 132 

Thickness of walls. 353 

Permit— 

Application for . 108 

Issuance of (See Appendix— 

Ord. 37715) 

Life of, definition of. 132 

Life of . 114 

Must be issued when applica¬ 
tion, plans and specifica¬ 
tions are correct. Ill 

Opening of moving picture 

theatres . 880 

Opening of public assembly 

halls . 821 

Opening of theatres. 864 

Placard must be posted. 106 

Portable picture machine 

booths . 881 

Shall designate use of build¬ 
ing . 109 

Validity of when issued prior 

to this ordinance . 103 

When invalid . 113 

When required . 106 

When not required . 107 

Person—Definition of . 132 








































































































134 


The Building Code 


INDEX —Continued 


Section 


Picture Machine Booths.871-882 

Piers—Stresses in brick. 342 

Pilasters . 368 

Files- 

General requirements .318-321 

Buildings on, need not be 

plastered . 276 

Concrete .322-324 

Jetted .. 325 

Safe load on . 321 

Tests of jetted . 325 

Pipes in concrete members.... 448 

Place of Detention— 

Alcove rooms . 703 

Construction of . 910 

Courts required . 714 

Definition of . 132 

Height of rooms. 702 

In cellars . 704 

Window area in . 705 

Place of Habitation— 

Alcove rooms . 703 

Courts required . 714 

Forbidden in theatres . 833 

Height of rooms. 702 

In cellars . 704 

Window area in . 705 

Place of Refuge— 

Alcove rooms . 703 

Construction of . 910 

Courts required . 714 

Fire escapes . 913 

Height of rooms . 702 

In cellars . 704 

Window area in . 705 

Plans— 

May be destroyed when work 

is completed . Ill 

Must be on job . 124 

Must state use of building... 109 
One set to remain in office of 
Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings . Ill 

Shall be stamped “Approved” 111 
Unlawful to change after per¬ 
mit is issued . 112 

Unlawful to deviate there¬ 
from .... 112 

When not acceptable. 108 

When not required . 108 


Section 


Plaster— 

Interior of motion picture the¬ 
atres . 866 

May be omitted in buildings 

over water . 276 

On courts and shafts. 276 

When required in frame build¬ 
ings . 276 

Plastering—Specifications for.. 520 

Plasterboard— 

On corridors . 276 

Required on buildings over 

water . 270 

Specifications for. 520 

Plate Girder . 458 

Portable Picture Machine Booth 881 

Positive Reinforcement— 

Definition of . 422 

Posts—Not to be wedged. 375 

Posts of Timber—Stresses in... 386 

Post Ciaps .• • 387 

Principal Design Section— 

Definition of . 422 

Private Property. 102 


Projections—Cornices, etc.1005 

Prosecutions— 

Based on previous ordinance. 104 


Prosceniums— 

In theatres . 848 

In amusement halls . 825 

In public assembly halls. . .805-806 
Proscenium Wall— 

In amusement halls . 825 

In theatres . 848 

Public Assembly Halls. . .801, 804-821 
Public Assembly— 

Places of, definition of. 801 

Places of .801-832 

Public Hall— Definition of. 132 

Public Property- 

Must comply with ordinance. 102 

Racking Over of Chimney. 534 

Radiators in Theatres. . 859 

Range— 

Brick set, construction of... . 549 

Hoods over . 550 

Smoke pipe for . 545 


American Sheet Metal Products Co. 

Sheet Metal Service When You Want It 

Fire Doors; Roofing'and Roof Repairing; Marquees; General 
Sheet Metal Work; Heating and Ventilating 

MA in 5126 714 PINE STREET 


r 




OCCIDENTAL SHEET METAL WORKS 


(INCORPORATED) 

Metal Cornices, Kalamein Doors, Windows, Underwriters 
Labeled Fire Doors, Skylights, Marquise Roofing 
and General Repairing. 

912 Maynard Ave. MA in 3881. Seattle, Wash, 

v-—- 



































































The Building Code 


135 


STAR 

SHEET METAL 

MFG. CO. 

QUALITY ★ SERVICE 



Anything in Sheet Metal 


FOR 

Buildings, Restaurants, Etc. 

V_, 


Theatre Smokevents and Skylights; Automatic Shut¬ 
ters and Film Cabinets for Motion Picture 
Booths; Fire Doors and Shutters; Cor¬ 
nices; Conductors; Gutters; Sky¬ 
lights ; Marquises; Ventilation 


GENERAL JOBBING AND ROOFING 


Wire Frames for Lamp Shades 


Electric Spot Welding 


Phone MA in 5851 2332 FIRST AVENUE 

















136 


The Building Code 


INDEX— 

Section 


Vents for. 550 

Rat Prevention . 334 

Rear Exits— 

Moving picture theatres. 868 

Recesses in Wall . 364 

For radiators in theatres.... 859 

Red Eights at Exits— 

Public assembly halls ...... 819 

Theatres . 856 

Refuge, Places of— 

Definition of . 132 

(See “Places of Refuge") 

Register Dampers— 

When prohibited . 547 

Register— 

Hot air. forbidden in floor of 

theatre . 859 

Of wood, when prohibited .. . 547 

Regrading— 


Alterations necessitated by.. 1029 
Reinforced Concrete— 

(See “Concrete”) 

Reinforcement —(See “Concrete”) 


Reinforcing Steel— 

(See “Concrete”) 

Removal— 

..Unlawful without permit.... 106 

Repairs— 

Frame buildings . 1028 

Fire damages . 1030 

Repairs, general provisions.. 1025 

Mill buildings . 1026 

Not necessitating permit .... 107 

Notice requiring . 117 

Ordinary masonry buildings. 1027 
Unlawful without permit .... 106 

Of steel reinforcement . 405 

Report—Concrete supervisor’s.. 450 
Residence— 

Definition of . 132 

Garage for one car in. 931 

Must be plastered . 276 

Size “B” garage in . 932 

Restaurants—Water closets in. 707 
Retaining Wall— 

Definition of . 132 

Design of . 310 

Rigging Eoft— 

In amusement halls . 828 

In theatres . 853 

Roof— 

Load . 304 

Construction, certain schools. 884 
Exit from stage . 840 

Roofing— 

Required on waterfront build¬ 
ings . 951 

(See ruling in Appendix) 

Rooms— 

Habitable, definition of . 132 

Number required in apartment 701 
Size of (See Appendix, Ordi¬ 
nance 15957) 

Size of in apartment . 701 

Rulings (See Appendix) 

Safety Measures During Con¬ 
struction .1017-1019, 1021-1023 

Safety—Standard of . . • •. 118 

Sand—Specifications for . 402 

Scaffolds .1022-1023 

Scenery to be Non-Inflammable 850 
School— 

Definition of. 833 

Construction . 883-896 

Scuttles . 653 

Seats— 

In amusement halls, spacing 

and fastening of. 823 

In moving picture theatres. . 870 


Continued 

1 I Section 


In schools . 893 

In theatres . 844 

In public assembly halls, 

spacing and fastening of. .. 816 

Seating Capacity— 

Amusement halls, how com¬ 
puted . .. 825 

Churches, how computed .... 803 

Self-Closing Door, Definition of 132 

Self-Closing Fire Door— 

Specifications for . 515 

Semi-Annual Theatre Inspection 862 
Separation Between Buildings.. 507 
Shafts— 

Enclosures of . 636 

Not to terminate in attic .... 504 

When requiring plastering. . . 276 

Vent . 712 

Sheet Metal— 

Covering of shelves. 875 

Lining of picture machine 

booths . 873 

Picture machine booths....... 872 

Required on courts and shafts 276 
Shower Bath— 

Required for each apartment. 706 

Shutters— 


In picture machine booth.. 874-875 


Sign— 

(See “Billboard”) 

Electric, definition of. 132 

Load . 306 

Skylights— 

Construction of . 1009 

Over stages of amusement 

halls . 829 

Over stages of theatres. 854 

Sleeping Rooms— 

Cellar . 704 

Cubic contents of . 701 

Not allowed in theatres. 833 

Slump—Definition of . 422 

Smoke House . 522 

Smoke Pipe— 

Clearance from wall, partition 

or ceiling . 545 

Double . 543 

Not to pass through exterior 

wall . 539 

Not to pass through floor, 
attic or concealed space.... 543 
Passing through clothes closet 543 
Through wood partitions .... 544 

Smokestacks— 

Construction of . 538 

When permitted . 539 

Smoke Vents— 

Over stages of amusement 

halls . 829 

Over stages of theatres. 854 

Soil—Sustaining power of.... 315-317 

Spandrel beams of wood. 376 

Spe cif ications— 

Must be on job . 124 

Of reinforced concrete to be 

complete . 421 

Unlawful to change after per¬ 
mit is issued . 112 

Unlawful to deviate from.... 112 
When required for permit... 108 
Spires— 

Construction of . 1007 

On frame buildings . 1008 

Sprinklers— 

Automatic, specifications for. 510 
Automatic, may increase un¬ 
divided area . 503 

In basement . 513 

In buildings five stories high 514 

In waterfront buildings. 953 

Jumbo, specifications for ... 511 











































































The Building Code 


137 


INDEX —Continued 


Section 


Sprinkler System— 

Over theatre stage. 858 

Stable- 

Definition of . 132 

Drainage system for . 921 

Egress from . 923 

Floors. 920 

Manure box for. 922 

Stairways— 

Construction of .616-619 

Enclosures— 

Class of fire door required 

on. 517 

Of brick, thickness of. 353 

Of tile, thickness of . 382 

Of reinforced concrete. 445 

Required .625-633 

General provisions . 601 

Halls .634-635 

In fireproof buildings.. 

..602, 603, 605, 606, 608, 609, 615 

In schools .891-894 

In theatres . 847 

Middle rail required in the¬ 
atres . 847 

Non-fireproof buildings . 

.602, 604-609 

To basements in theatres for¬ 
bidden . 847 

Tower . 620 


Standpipes— 

General requirements . 512 

In theatres . 858 


Steel— 

Columns ..443, 456 

Construction . 461 

Details, specifications for .. 

.457, 460, 462, 463 

Girders . 458 

Reinforcement (See “Concrete”) 
Reinforcing (See “Concrete”) 
Structural, specifications for 454 

Structural, stresses in. 455 

Tests. 459 


Stone Masonry— 

Stresses permitted in . 337 

Various classes of . 336 

Stop Work Notice. 124 


Storage Building—Definition of 132 


Stores— 

Height of permitted. 

Sprinklered if five stories 

high. 

Story Height —Definition of. . .. 

Stress Diagrams Required. 

Stresses— 

In brick masonry . 

In concrete . 

In stone masonry . 

In structural steel . 

In timber . 

In timber posts . 

Street —Definition of. 

Structural Materials —Test of. . 


715 

514 

370 

390 


340 

429 

337 

455 

385 

386 
132 
313 


Structural Steel— 

Columns, design of. 456 

• Details . 457 

Details, specifications for.. 462-463 

Erection . 461 

Specifications for . 454 

Superintendent of Buildings— 

Duties of . 

_105, 111, 115, 116, 120, 121 


Section 


Supervisor— 

Examination of . 450 

Of concrete, Duties of ....450-452 

Of concrete required.427. 450 

Symbols . 428 

Tanks, Water—Supports for ... 1010 
Temperature Reinforcement of 
Concrete . 432 

Temporary Building . 1016 

Temporary Partitions . 1001 

Tents— 

Chimney in . 538 

Permitted when . 1014 

For temporary use. 1016 

Terra Cotta— 

On concrete wall to be sup¬ 
ported at each floor. 453 

Terra Cotta Tile— 

General provisions . 378 

Specifications for . 379 

Thickness of tile walls. 382 

Tests— 

Of cement . 401 

Of concrete cylinders. 426 

Of concrete structures . 451 

Of piles . 325 

Of structural materials. 313 

Of structural steel .. 459 

Of sustaining power of soil 316-317 
Theatre— 

Definition of . 832 

Exits, emergency . 842 

Exits, regular . 840 

Exits, to passages through 

other occupancy . 833 

General requirements .832-864 

Semi-annual inspection of... 862 

Thimbles in chimneys. 533 

Through Dot—Definition of ... 132 

Tile— 

For foundation walls . 382 

Not to be used to support 

concentrated loads . 381 

Partitions, thickness of . 382 

Specifications for . 379 

Thickness of stairway and 

elevator enclosure . 382 

Thickness of walls, bonding, 
corbelling, etc. 382 


Walls, stresses permitted in. 381 
When permitted in walls.... 378 

Timber— 

Built up members to be bolted 387 


Permitted stresses in . 385 

Required quality . 384 

To have clearance is set in 

walls . 377 

Posts, stresses in. 386 

Trusses . 390 

Toilet Room— 

Doors to be self closing .... 707 

Required . 706 

To be vented . 708 

Vent ducts . 710 

Where food is prepared . 707 

Tower— 

Construction of . 1007 

On frame buildings . 1008 

Stairways . 620 

Trimmers —Of timber . 388 

‘iruss— Timber details . 390 


THEATRE CHAIRS-SCHOOL FURNITURE 

IN STOCK AT SEATTLE 

THE A. H. ANDREWS COMPANY 


Branch and Warehouse 
617 Western Avenue Phone MA in 4422 


Seattle 









































































































138 


The Building Code 


Underpinning 
Undertaking Establishments— 

(See Appendix, Ord. 38519) 
Undivided Area of floors... .501-503 
Unoccupied Area of lot required 714 

Unsafe— 

Billboards . 1058 

Building- or structure.118-120 

Building, may be made safe 
by Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings . 121 

Use of Building— 

Change in . 116 

Must be on plans and permit 109 
Or structure, when unlawful. 

.106. 116 

Vacation— 

Of building. 119 

Of building or lot because of 
unlawful use . 116 

Vaults —For refuse . 523 

Vehicle, Motor —Definition of.. 132 

Veneer- 

Definition of . 132 

Must rest on masonry. 333 

Ventilating Ducts . 546 

V entilation— 

Of amusement halls . 830 

Of permanent picture booths. 876 
Of portable picture machine 

booths... 881 

Of schools . 895 

Of theatres . 855 

Required . 713 

Through windows . 705 

Under building . 327 

For bed-closets . 709 

For escape of smoke, from 

stage of amusement halls.. 829 
For escape of smoke, from 

stage of theatres. 854 

For toilet and water closet 

rooms . 708 

From hoods over ranges .... 550 

Not to terminate in attic.... 504 
To be carried above roof.... 710 

Vent-Shafts— 


Definition of. 132 

General provisions concerning 712 

Vibrations in Walls. 365 

Violations— 

Of Code, not legalized by per¬ 
mit . 113 

Of previous ordinance. 104 

Walls— 

Anchors . 377 

Bearing, definition of . 132 

Between columns to be an¬ 
chored .y. 369 

Chases in .. 362 

Concrete . 372 

Containing pilasters . 368 

Curtain, definition of . 132 

Curtain, of reinforced con¬ 
crete . 446 

Division, definition of . 132 

Filler, definition of. 132 

Filler, of brick . 353 

Filler of reinforced concrete. 446 
Height to be not over twenty 

times the thickness. 370 

Hollow . 373 

Hollow brick . 360 


Section 


Non-bearing, definition of . . 132 

Parapet . 374 

Of reinforced concrete . 445 

Of reinforced concrete for 

residences . 446 

Recesses and chases. 364 

Retaining . 310 

Subject to vibration . 365 

Thickness of basement. 372 

Thickness of brick. 

...351. 354, 356, 357, 358, 359, 362 

Thickness of division . 353 

Thickness of foundation .... 333 

Thickness of masonry other 

than brick. 372 

Thickness of pent house. 353 

Of tile, general provisions... 378 

To extend below ground. 334 

When to be laid in cement 

mortar .366-367 

With openings to be thickened 

..362-363 

Warehouse— 

Definition of . 132 

Height permitted . 715 

Sprinklered if five stories 

high . 514 

Water— 

For mixing concrete . 404 

Cement ratio, definition of... 422 

Water Closet— 

Room, required . 706 

Room, to be vented . 708 

Where food is prepared. 707 

Waterfront Buildings— 

Automatic sprinklers required 953 

Chimneys in . 538 

Complying with provisions 

for buildings on land. 954 

Definition of . 132 

Draft curtains under. 950 

Exterior construction . 951 

Firewalls in . 952 

Not requiring plastering .... 276 

Roof curtains in. 952 

Roofing required on. 951 


Water T!anks —Supports for.... 1010 
Weights of Materials— 

(See Appendix) 

Wharf— 

(See “Waterfront Building”) 951 


Draft curtains under . 950 

Window— 

Area required . 705 

Automatic, definition of .... 132 

Bay . 1003 

Cleaner attachments . 1011 

Dormer. 1006 

Size and number required, in 

schools . 888 

Wind Pressure— 

Assumed . 309 

Must be considered . 301 

On bill board . 1053 

On chimneys .. 535 

Wire Glass— 

Definition of . 132 

Maximum size permitted .... 518 

Wire Netting—Under Skylights 854 

Workshop— 

Definition of . 132 

Height permitted . 715 

Light and ventilation required 713 
Sprinklered if five stories 

high . 514 

Yards—Adjoining stable . 920 


INDEX —Continued 

Section 
.... 329 

























































































The Building Code 


139 


MEMORANDUM 






































140 


The Building Code 


MEMORANDUM 





































The Building Code 


141 


MEMORANDUM 









































142 


The Building Code 


MEMORANDUM 






















































The Building Code 


143 



MEMORANDUM 





































144 


The Building Code 


MEMORANDUM 





























BUILDING ORDINANCES 

CITY OF SEATTLE 

CORRECTED TO JANUARY 1, 1924 


Since 1849 the name FULLER has stood 
for quality in Paints, Varnishes and Ena¬ 
mels on the Pacific Coast, so it is with 
pride that we point to our many success¬ 
ful years of experience in the paint and 
glass business. For the benefit of those 
who are interested in getting material of 
the highest quality we are listing below 
some of the brands of Paint and Varnish manufactured 
by us which are being specified and used most gener¬ 
ally by Architects and Builders: 

Rubber Cement Floor Paint Pioneer Shingle Stain 



Pioneer White Lead 
Silkenwhite Enamel 
Pure Prepared Paint 
Washable Wall Finish 
Fuller’s Oil Stain 


Armorite Damp Proofing 
Fullerwear Spar Varnish 
40-For Finishing Varnish 
50—For Flatting Varnish 
15—For Floors Varnish 


WE ARE 


The Largest PLATE and WINDOW GLASS 
JOBBERS on the Pacific Coast. 

No Job Too Large or Too Small 

LET US FIGURE YOUR GLASS REQUIREMENTS 
Estimates cheerfully given. 


W. P. FULLER CO. 

The Pioneer Paint Manufacturers 

Phone EL iot 5335 Seattle, Wash. 

FULLER 

PAINTS ESa VARNISHES 











LUMBER COMPANY 


WHOLESALE and RETAIL 

LUHBEB.LATH.SHNGLES, ETC 

OURSPECIALTIES 

High" Grade Finish" Fir, Spruce, Hemlock, 
Cedar and Native White Pine, in all 
widths up to twenty-four inches 

Doors, 3-Ply Veneer Panels, (Plaster Board), 
and Stock and Detail Mouldings 

Roofing,! Building Paper, Etc. 

U PS O N Iw A L LB O A R D 

- ' ’tkr . * V # 

(Special nails especially made for use in 
erecting same) 


l ASBESTONE--- FLEXSTONE £ 

1 FltRcMg Time Defyteg Asbestos Roorug f 
q Ready to Lay With'J-M Roofing Clamp ~ 


2 3 2 5 Phone 

WESTERN AVE. ELiot dBm i 









MANUFACTURERS 


PIPE 

TANKS 
RIVETED 


“BULL” RIVETER 


STEEL FABRICATORS 
Hydraulic Mining Equipmen 


HYDRAU 

Supply Manufacturing 


EIGHTH SOUTH AND NEVADA 


SEATTLE 






,1 


POWER PLANT ENGINEERING CO! 

1933 _ FIFTH AVE. 



SAVE HALF YOUR COAL BILL 

For Horae or Power Plant 

Economical Automatic 

Convenient Flexible 

Dependable Efficient 

The BAY is recognized by architects, engineers and 
users as the most efficient and best oil burner—WHY? 

1. Single unit construction—simplicity insures safe and 
easy operation. 

2. Angular vane nozzle—better atomization, quicker and 
complete combustion. 

3. Positive motor-driven atomizing cup—flexibility and 
dependability. 

4. Enclosed, oil-cooled motor—burns 14° cold oil, long¬ 
life motor. 

5. Only two large ball bearings and “splash” system of 
lubrication—fool proof, very little attention. 

6. Independent and complete air control—small fire or 
large fire with greatest economy. 

7. Automatic control of oil, air and draft—maximum 
efficiency, minimum attention. 

See the New Model 

AUTOMATIC RESIDENCE OIL BURNER 

CLEAN—QUIET—SAFE 

Send for tha booklet describing' 

PLIBRICO JOINTLESS FIRE BRICK 


POWER PLANT ENGINEERING CO. 

VISIT OUR DISPLAY ROOM AND DEMONSTRATION PLANT 

1933 Fifth Avenue Seattle EL iot 1083 


TACOMA BRANCH 
622 Tacoma Bldg-. MA in 919 


AGENTS ALL OVER WASHING¬ 
TON. ALASKA AND IDAHO 




































































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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 






